gsd-pi 2.77.0-dev.58d3d4d6c → 2.77.0-dev.cfd69e714

package/dist/resources/extensions/gsd/auto/session.js

@@ -16,9 +16,7 @@
  * `let` or `var` declarations.
  */
 // ─── Constants ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-export const MAX_UNIT_DISPATCHES = 3;
 export const STUB_RECOVERY_THRESHOLD = 2;
-export const MAX_LIFETIME_DISPATCHES = 6;
 export const NEW_SESSION_TIMEOUT_MS = 120_000;
 // ─── AutoSession ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 export class AutoSession {

package/dist/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-dispatch.js

@@ -23,7 +23,41 @@ import { buildDiscussMilestonePrompt, buildResearchMilestonePrompt, buildPlanMil
 import { resolveModelWithFallbacksForUnit } from "./preferences-models.js";
 import { resolveUokFlags } from "./uok/flags.js";
 import { selectReactiveDispatchBatch } from "./uok/execution-graph.js";
+import { getMilestonePipelineVariant } from "./milestone-scope-classifier.js";
 import { EXECUTION_ENTRY_PHASES, hasFinalizedMilestoneContext } from "./uok/plan-v2.js";
+import { isAutoActive } from "./auto.js";
+import { markDepthVerified } from "./bootstrap/write-gate.js";
+let reassessmentChecker = checkNeedsReassessment;
+export function setReassessmentCheckerForTest(checker) {
+    const previous = reassessmentChecker;
+    reassessmentChecker = checker;
+    return () => {
+        reassessmentChecker = previous;
+    };
+}
+async function readUatGateVerdict(basePath, mid, sliceId) {
+    const uatFile = resolveSliceFile(basePath, mid, sliceId, "UAT");
+    const assessmentFile = resolveSliceFile(basePath, mid, sliceId, "ASSESSMENT");
+    const uatContent = uatFile ? await loadFile(uatFile) : null;
+    const uatType = uatContent ? extractUatType(uatContent) : undefined;
+    const assessmentContent = assessmentFile ? await loadFile(assessmentFile) : null;
+    if (assessmentContent) {
+        const assessmentVerdict = extractVerdict(assessmentContent);
+        if (assessmentVerdict) {
+            return {
+                verdict: assessmentVerdict,
+                uatType: uatType ?? extractUatType(assessmentContent),
+            };
+        }
+    }
+    if (uatContent) {
+        const legacyUatVerdict = extractVerdict(uatContent);
+        if (legacyUatVerdict) {
+            return { verdict: legacyUatVerdict, uatType };
+        }
+    }
+    return null;
+}
 function missingSliceStop(mid, phase) {
     return {
         action: "stop",
@@ -178,6 +212,16 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
             // as missing, and an auto worktree may fall back to GSD_PROJECT_ROOT.
             if (hasFinalizedMilestoneContext(basePath, mid))
                 return null;
+            // H6 fix (#4973): In auto-mode there is no human to answer the
+            // depth-verification ask_user_questions, so the write-gate deadlocks.
+            // Pre-mark the milestone as depth-verified so gsd_summary_save({artifact_type:"CONTEXT"})
+            // is not blocked. Safe ordering: session_switch fires clearDiscussionFlowState()
+            // (register-hooks.ts:106) before before_agent_start, which fires before resolveDispatch
+            // reaches this match fn — so this call always happens after any session-switch reset.
+            // Interactive sessions (isAutoActive()===false) are unaffected.
+            if (isAutoActive()) {
+                markDepthVerified(mid, basePath);
+            }
             return {
                 action: "dispatch",
                 unitType: "discuss-milestone",
@@ -236,27 +280,29 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
             // Only applies when UAT dispatch is enabled
             if (!prefs?.uat_dispatch)
                 return null;
-            const roadmapFile = resolveMilestoneFile(basePath, mid, "ROADMAP");
-            // DB-first: get completed slices from DB
-            let completedSliceIds;
+            // DB-first: prefer closed slices from DB; fall back to ROADMAP on disk.
+            let closedSliceIds;
             if (isDbAvailable()) {
-                completedSliceIds = getMilestoneSlices(mid)
-                    .filter(s => s.status === "complete")
+                closedSliceIds = getMilestoneSlices(mid)
+                    .filter(s => isClosedStatus(s.status))
                     .map(s => s.id);
             }
             else {
-                return null;
+                // Filesystem fallback for degraded / unmigrated projects.
+                // `slice.done` in the parsed ROADMAP is the disk-level closed signal.
+                const roadmapFile = resolveMilestoneFile(basePath, mid, "ROADMAP");
+                const roadmapContent = roadmapFile ? await loadFile(roadmapFile) : null;
+                if (!roadmapContent)
+                    return null;
+                const roadmap = parseRoadmap(roadmapContent);
+                closedSliceIds = roadmap.slices.filter(s => s.done).map(s => s.id);
             }
-            for (const sliceId of completedSliceIds) {
-                const resultFile = resolveSliceFile(basePath, mid, sliceId, "UAT");
-                if (!resultFile)
-                    continue;
-                const content = await loadFile(resultFile);
-                if (!content)
+            for (const sliceId of closedSliceIds) {
+                const result = await readUatGateVerdict(basePath, mid, sliceId);
+                if (!result)
                     continue;
-                const verdict = extractVerdict(content);
-                const uatType = extractUatType(content);
-                if (verdict && !isAcceptableUatVerdict(verdict, uatType)) {
+                const { verdict, uatType } = result;
+                if (!isAcceptableUatVerdict(verdict, uatType)) {
                     return {
                         action: "stop",
                         reason: `UAT verdict for ${sliceId} is "${verdict}" — blocking progression until resolved.\nReview the UAT result and update the verdict to PASS, or re-run /gsd auto after fixing.`,
@@ -272,12 +318,16 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
         match: async ({ state, mid, midTitle, basePath, prefs }) => {
             if (prefs?.phases?.skip_reassess)
                 return null;
-            // Default reassess_after_slice to true — reassessment after slice completion
-            // is essential for roadmap integrity. Opt-out via explicit `false`.
-            const reassessEnabled = prefs?.phases?.reassess_after_slice ?? true;
+            // Default reassess_after_slice to false per ADR-003 §4 — most reassess
+            // units conclude "roadmap is fine" and burn a session for no change.
+            // The plan-slice prompt now carries a reassessment preamble so the
+            // next slice's planner does JIT roadmap verification at zero extra
+            // cost. Opt-in via explicit `reassess_after_slice: true` (e.g.
+            // burn-max profile) when you want the dedicated reassess session.
+            const reassessEnabled = prefs?.phases?.reassess_after_slice ?? false;
             if (!reassessEnabled)
                 return null;
-            const needsReassess = await checkNeedsReassessment(basePath, mid, state);
+            const needsReassess = await reassessmentChecker(basePath, mid, state);
             if (!needsReassess)
                 return null;
             return {
@@ -293,6 +343,12 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
         match: async ({ state, mid, midTitle, basePath, structuredQuestionsAvailable }) => {
             if (state.phase !== "needs-discussion")
                 return null;
+            // H6 fix (#4973): auto-mark depth-verified so the write-gate does not
+            // deadlock in non-interactive (auto-mode) runs. See ordering note at
+            // "execution-entry phase (no context) → discuss-milestone" above.
+            if (isAutoActive()) {
+                markDepthVerified(mid, basePath);
+            }
             return {
                 action: "dispatch",
                 unitType: "discuss-milestone",
@@ -310,6 +366,12 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
             const hasContext = !!(contextFile && (await loadFile(contextFile)));
             if (hasContext)
                 return null; // fall through to next rule
+            // H6 fix (#4973): auto-mark depth-verified so the write-gate does not
+            // deadlock in non-interactive (auto-mode) runs. See ordering note at
+            // "execution-entry phase (no context) → discuss-milestone" above.
+            if (isAutoActive()) {
+                markDepthVerified(mid, basePath);
+            }
             return {
                 action: "dispatch",
                 unitType: "discuss-milestone",
@@ -383,6 +445,12 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
                 return null;
             if (prefs?.phases?.skip_research || prefs?.phases?.skip_slice_research)
                 return null;
+            // #4781 phase 2: trivial-scope milestones skip dedicated slice research.
+            // plan-slice absorbs the lightweight discovery a trivial deliverable
+            // needs. Null result (DB unavailable / unknown) falls through to today's
+            // behavior.
+            if (await getMilestonePipelineVariant(mid) === "trivial")
+                return null;
             // Load roadmap to find all slices
             const roadmapFile = resolveMilestoneFile(basePath, mid, "ROADMAP");
             const roadmapContent = roadmapFile ? await loadFile(roadmapFile) : null;
@@ -432,6 +500,9 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
             // Phase skip: skip research when preference or profile says so
             if (prefs?.phases?.skip_research || prefs?.phases?.skip_slice_research)
                 return null;
+            // #4781 phase 2: trivial-scope milestones skip dedicated slice research.
+            if (await getMilestonePipelineVariant(mid) === "trivial")
+                return null;
             if (!state.activeSlice)
                 return missingSliceStop(mid, state.phase);
             const sid = state.activeSlice.id;
@@ -713,22 +784,29 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
                     level: "error",
                 };
             }
-            // Skip preference: write a minimal pass-through VALIDATION file
-            if (prefs?.phases?.skip_milestone_validation) {
+            // #4781 phase 2: trivial-scope milestones skip the dedicated validate
+            // unit — complete-milestone's own verification steps (3/4/5 in the
+            // closer prompt) are sufficient proof for contained deliverables.
+            const trivialVariant = await getMilestonePipelineVariant(mid) === "trivial";
+            // Skip preference OR trivial scope: write a minimal pass-through VALIDATION file.
+            if (prefs?.phases?.skip_milestone_validation || trivialVariant) {
                 const mDir = resolveMilestonePath(basePath, mid);
                 if (mDir) {
                     if (!existsSync(mDir))
                         mkdirSync(mDir, { recursive: true });
                     const validationPath = join(mDir, buildMilestoneFileName(mid, "VALIDATION"));
+                    const skipSource = trivialVariant
+                        ? "trivial-scope pipeline variant (#4781)"
+                        : "`skip_milestone_validation` preference";
                     const content = [
                         "---",
                         "verdict: pass",
                         "remediation_round: 0",
                         "---",
                         "",
-                        "# Milestone Validation (skipped by preference)",
+                        "# Milestone Validation (skipped)",
                         "",
-                        "Milestone validation was skipped via `skip_milestone_validation` preference.",
+                        `Milestone validation was skipped via ${skipSource}.`,
                     ].join("\n");
                     writeFileSync(validationPath, content, "utf-8");
                 }
@@ -795,7 +873,7 @@ export const DISPATCH_RULES = [
             // Safety guard (#1703): verify the milestone produced implementation
             // artifacts (non-.gsd/ files). A milestone with only plan files and
             // zero implementation code should not be marked complete.
-            const artifactCheck = hasImplementationArtifacts(basePath);
+            const artifactCheck = hasImplementationArtifacts(basePath, mid);
             if (artifactCheck === "absent") {
                 return {
                     action: "stop",

package/dist/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-model-selection.js

@@ -13,6 +13,75 @@ import { logWarning } from "./workflow-logger.js";
 import { resolveUokFlags } from "./uok/flags.js";
 import { applyModelPolicyFilter } from "./uok/model-policy.js";
 import { isModelBlocked } from "./blocked-models.js";
+import { getRequiredWorkflowToolsForAutoUnit } from "./workflow-mcp.js";
+/**
+ * Thrown when the model-policy gate rejects every candidate model for a unit
+ * dispatch (#4959 / #4681 / #4850).  The auto-loop catches this specifically
+ * to classify the unit as `blocked` rather than counting it as a retryable
+ * iteration error — pre-send policy denial is a configuration problem, not a
+ * transient runtime failure, so retrying just burns the consecutive-error
+ * budget toward a hard stop.
+ */
+export class ModelPolicyDispatchBlockedError extends Error {
+    unitType;
+    unitId;
+    reasons;
+    constructor(unitType, unitId, reasons) {
+        const summary = reasons.length === 0
+            ? "no candidate models"
+            : reasons
+                .slice(0, 4)
+                .map((r) => `${r.provider}/${r.modelId} (${r.reason})`)
+                .join("; ");
+        super(`Model policy denied dispatch for ${unitType}/${unitId} before prompt send. Rejected: ${summary}`);
+        this.name = "ModelPolicyDispatchBlockedError";
+        this.unitType = unitType;
+        this.unitId = unitId;
+        this.reasons = reasons;
+    }
+}
+// Baseline active-tool set per-`pi` instance, captured the first time
+// `selectAndApplyModel` runs against that instance during an auto session
+// and re-applied before each subsequent dispatch.  WeakMap so that test
+// fakes / disposed sessions are garbage-collected normally.  See
+// #4959 / #4681 cross-unit poisoning notes at the call site below.
+//
+// LIFECYCLE: the baseline is tied to a single auto session, NOT to the
+// lifetime of the `pi` instance (which can outlive many auto runs and have
+// the user mutate tools between them).  `clearToolBaseline` MUST be called
+// at auto start AND auto stop so that a second `/gsd auto` run on the same
+// `pi` does not silently restore a stale snapshot from the prior run and
+// undo any tool changes the user made between sessions.
+const TOOL_BASELINE = new WeakMap();
+/**
+ * Drop the captured tool baseline for `pi` so the next `selectAndApplyModel`
+ * call re-captures from the live active set.  Wired into `startAuto` and
+ * `stopAuto` in `auto.ts` to bound the baseline to a single auto session.
+ *
+ * Safe to call when no baseline is recorded (no-op).
+ */
+export function clearToolBaseline(pi) {
+    TOOL_BASELINE.delete(pi);
+}
+function restoreToolBaseline(pi) {
+    const key = pi;
+    const baseline = TOOL_BASELINE.get(key);
+    if (baseline === undefined) {
+        // First call: capture the canonical pre-dispatch tool set.  At auto-mode
+        // start the active set has not yet been narrowed for any provider.
+        // Guarded against test fakes that omit getActiveTools — record an empty
+        // baseline so subsequent calls don't keep re-probing.
+        const initial = typeof pi.getActiveTools === "function" ? pi.getActiveTools() : [];
+        TOOL_BASELINE.set(key, [...initial]);
+        return;
+    }
+    // Restore baseline before the next unit reads getActiveTools / applies
+    // post-selection adjustToolSet.  Older fakes that omit setActiveTools are
+    // tolerated — the test asserts call order on real fakes.
+    if (typeof pi.setActiveTools === "function") {
+        pi.setActiveTools([...baseline]);
+    }
+}
 function reapplyThinkingLevel(pi, level) {
     if (!level)
         return;
@@ -86,6 +155,29 @@ autoModeStartThinkingLevel) {
         : resolvePreferredModelConfig(unitType, autoModeStartModel, isAutoMode);
     let routing = null;
     let appliedModel = null;
+    // ── Restore active-tool baseline before policy evaluation (#4959, #4681, #4850) ──
+    // Per-unit narrowing at the bottom of this function (line ~417) calls
+    // `pi.setActiveTools(finalToolNames)` and monotonically narrows the active
+    // set across units.  Without restoration, a previously-dispatched unit on a
+    // narrow-API provider (e.g. openai-completions) leaves the active set
+    // missing tools that the next unit's selected model fully supports, but
+    // `pi.getActiveTools()` snapshot-as-hard-gate (the old behaviour) blocked
+    // dispatch with "tool policy denied" anyway.
+    //
+    // The baseline is captured once per `pi` instance via a WeakMap and
+    // re-applied here so each unit starts from a clean slate.  Soft adaptation
+    // (adjustToolSet at the bottom of this function) still trims for the
+    // selected model.
+    //
+    // Auto-mode only (#4965): `guided-flow.ts:dispatchWorkflow` also calls
+    // `selectAndApplyModel` with `isAutoMode=false`. Guided-flow has its own
+    // narrow/restore via discuss-tool-scoping (guided-flow.ts:587-622) and no
+    // baseline-clear hook of its own, so an unconditional restore here would
+    // resurrect an auto-era baseline on guided-flow dispatches — silently
+    // overwriting any tool changes made interactively between auto sessions.
+    // The baseline is structurally an auto-mode concept; gate it accordingly.
+    if (isAutoMode)
+        restoreToolBaseline(pi);
     if (modelConfig) {
         const availableModels = ctx.modelRegistry.getAvailable();
         const modelPolicyTraceId = `model:${ctx.sessionManager.getSessionId()}:${Date.now()}`;
@@ -114,7 +206,16 @@ autoModeStartThinkingLevel) {
         const taskMetadataForPolicy = unitType === "execute-task"
             ? extractTaskMetadata(unitId, basePath)
             : undefined;
+        let policyDenyReasons = [];
         if (uokFlags.modelPolicy) {
+            // Use the workflow-spec required-tool subset for the unit type rather
+            // than the live `pi.getActiveTools()` snapshot (#4959).  The active set
+            // is poisoned by per-unit narrowing for narrow-API providers — using it
+            // as a hard gate promotes soft adaptation (adjustToolSet at line ~417)
+            // into a layering violation that throws before dispatch.  The smaller
+            // workflow-required subset reflects what the unit actually needs; soft
+            // adaptation post-selection still trims provider-incompatible tools.
+            const requiredTools = getRequiredWorkflowToolsForAutoUnit(unitType);
             const policy = applyModelPolicyFilter(availableModels, {
                 basePath,
                 traceId: modelPolicyTraceId,
@@ -123,12 +224,15 @@ autoModeStartThinkingLevel) {
                 taskMetadata: taskMetadataForPolicy,
                 currentProvider: ctx.model?.provider,
                 allowCrossProvider: routingConfig.cross_provider !== false,
-                requiredTools: pi.getActiveTools(),
+                requiredTools,
             });
             routingEligibleModels = policy.eligible;
             policyAllowedModelKeys = new Set(policy.eligible.map((m) => `${m.provider.toLowerCase()}/${m.id.toLowerCase()}`));
+            policyDenyReasons = policy.decisions
+                .filter((d) => !d.allowed)
+                .map((d) => ({ provider: d.provider, modelId: d.modelId, reason: d.reason }));
             if (routingEligibleModels.length === 0) {
-                throw new Error(`Model policy denied all candidate models for ${unitType}/${unitId}`);
+                throw new ModelPolicyDispatchBlockedError(unitType, unitId, policyDenyReasons);
             }
         }
         // Disable routing for flat-rate providers like GitHub Copilot (#3453).
@@ -169,7 +273,11 @@ autoModeStartThinkingLevel) {
             if (shouldClassify) {
                 let classification = classifyUnitComplexity(unitType, unitId, basePath, budgetPct, taskMetadataForPolicy);
                 const availableModelIds = routingEligibleModels.map(m => `${m.provider}/${m.id}`);
-                // Escalate tier on retry when escalate_on_failure is enabled (default: true)
+                // Escalate tier on retry when escalate_on_failure is enabled (default: true).
+                // #4973: Deterministic policy errors are short-circuited at the postUnit
+                // level (auto-post-unit.ts writes a placeholder and returns "continue"),
+                // so this code path only runs for legitimate model-quality retries where
+                // tier escalation is the right response.
                 if (retryContext?.isRetry &&
                     retryContext.previousTier &&
                     routingConfig.escalate_on_failure !== false) {
@@ -179,6 +287,18 @@ autoModeStartThinkingLevel) {
                         // Always notify on tier escalation — model changes should be visible (#3962)
                         ctx.ui.notify(`Tier escalation: ${retryContext.previousTier} → ${escalated} (retry after failure)`, "info");
                     }
+                    else {
+                        // #4973: Already at max tier — keep previousTier rather than letting
+                        // fresh classification silently downgrade the model back to a lower tier.
+                        // Without this, a light-start unit on retry 3 would revert to the light
+                        // model after escalating to heavy on retries 1 and 2.
+                        const tierOrder = { light: 0, standard: 1, heavy: 2 };
+                        const prevOrder = tierOrder[retryContext.previousTier] ?? 0;
+                        const freshOrder = tierOrder[classification.tier] ?? 0;
+                        if (prevOrder > freshOrder) {
+                            classification = { ...classification, tier: retryContext.previousTier, reason: "retained escalated tier from retry" };
+                        }
+                    }
                 }
                 // Load user capability overrides from preferences (D-17: deep-merged with built-in profiles)
                 const capabilityOverrides = loadCapabilityOverrides(prefs ?? {});
@@ -335,7 +455,7 @@ autoModeStartThinkingLevel) {
             }
         }
         if (uokFlags.modelPolicy && policyAllowedModelKeys && !attemptedPolicyEligible) {
-            throw new Error(`Model policy denied dispatch for ${unitType}/${unitId} before prompt send`);
+            throw new ModelPolicyDispatchBlockedError(unitType, unitId, policyDenyReasons);
         }
     }
     else if (autoModeStartModel) {

package/dist/resources/extensions/gsd/auto-post-unit.js

@@ -47,8 +47,18 @@ import { UokGateRunner } from "./uok/gate-runner.js";
 import { writeTurnGitTransaction } from "./uok/gitops.js";
 import { isClosedStatus } from "./status-guards.js";
 import { detectAbandonMilestone } from "./abandon-detect.js";
+import { isDeterministicPolicyError } from "./auto-tool-tracking.js";
 /** Maximum verification retry attempts before escalating to blocker placeholder (#2653). */
 const MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES = 3;
+/** Keep failure toasts short while still showing concrete examples. */
+const MAX_NOTIFICATION_DETAILS = 3;
+const NOTIFICATION_BULLET = "•";
+function formatPreExecutionCheckDetail(check) {
+    const category = check.category?.trim() || "unknown category";
+    const target = check.target?.trim() || "unknown target";
+    const message = check.message.split(/\r?\n/, 1)[0]?.trim() || "No details provided";
+    return `  ${NOTIFICATION_BULLET} [${category}] ${target}: ${message}`;
+}
 const COMPLETE_MILESTONE_DB_SETTLE_MS = 1500;
 const COMPLETE_MILESTONE_DB_SETTLE_POLL_MS = 100;
 async function waitForMilestoneDbClose(mid) {
@@ -88,7 +98,7 @@ const LIFECYCLE_ONLY_UNITS = new Set([
 ]);
 import { describeNextUnit, } from "./auto-dashboard.js";
 import { existsSync, unlinkSync } from "node:fs";
-import { join } from "node:path";
+import { join, relative } from "node:path";
 import { _resetHasChangesCache } from "./native-git-bridge.js";
 import { autoCommitCurrentBranch } from "./worktree.js";
 /**
@@ -200,6 +210,13 @@ export function detectRogueFileWrites(unitType, unitId, basePath) {
     }
     return rogues;
 }
+/**
+ * Maximum number of times to retry a unit whose expected artifact is missing
+ * after execution. Matches the bounded pattern used by runPostUnitVerification
+ * in auto-verification.ts. Exceeding this limit pauses auto-mode instead of
+ * looping indefinitely (#2007).
+ */
+const MAX_ARTIFACT_VERIFICATION_RETRIES = 3;
 export const STEP_COMPLETE_FALLBACK_MESSAGE = "Step complete. Run /clear, then /gsd to continue (or /gsd auto to run continuously).";
 export function buildStepCompleteMessage(nextState) {
     if (nextState.phase === "complete") {
@@ -782,24 +799,38 @@ export async function postUnitPreVerification(pctx, opts) {
             // When artifact verification fails for a unit type that has a known expected
             // artifact, return "retry" so the caller re-dispatches with failure context
             // instead of blindly re-dispatching the same unit (#1571).
-            // After MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES, escalate to writeBlockerPlaceholder so the
-            // pipeline can advance instead of looping forever (#2653).
+            // Retries are capped at MAX_ARTIFACT_VERIFICATION_RETRIES to prevent
+            // unbounded loops (#2007).
+            //
+            // Pre-checks short-circuit retry for known-unrecoverable failures:
+            // - Deterministic policy rejection (#4973): structural write-gate failure
+            //   that will recur on every retry, so write a blocker placeholder.
+            // - DB infra failure (#2517): completion tool returned db_unavailable, so
+            //   the artifact was never written. Retrying can never succeed.
+            // - Tool invocation error (#2883/#3595): malformed JSON args or queued
+            //   user message — retry will produce the same failure.
             //
-            // HOWEVER, if the DB is unavailable (db_unavailable), the artifact was never
-            // written because the completion tool failed at the infra level. Retrying
-            // can never succeed and produces a costly re-dispatch loop (#2517).
-            if (!triggerArtifactVerified && !isDbAvailable()) {
-                // DB infra failure — do NOT retry; the completion tool returned
-                // db_unavailable so the artifact was never written. Retrying would
-                // produce an infinite re-dispatch loop (#2517).
+            // #4973: Deterministic policy rejections (e.g. context_write_blocked from the
+            // write-gate) are checked FIRST — before the DB-availability check — because
+            // they are structural gates that will fire on every retry regardless of DB or
+            // model tier. Short-circuit immediately by writing a blocker placeholder.
+            if (!triggerArtifactVerified && s.lastToolInvocationError && isDeterministicPolicyError(s.lastToolInvocationError)) {
+                const retryKey = `${s.currentUnit.type}:${s.currentUnit.id}`;
+                debugLog("postUnit", { phase: "deterministic-policy-error-placeholder", unitType: s.currentUnit.type, unitId: s.currentUnit.id, error: s.lastToolInvocationError });
+                const reason = `Deterministic policy rejection for ${s.currentUnit.type} "${s.currentUnit.id}": ${s.lastToolInvocationError}. Retrying cannot resolve this gate — writing blocker placeholder to advance pipeline.`;
+                s.lastToolInvocationError = null;
+                s.pendingVerificationRetry = null;
+                s.verificationRetryCount.delete(retryKey);
+                writeBlockerPlaceholder(s.currentUnit.type, s.currentUnit.id, s.basePath, reason);
+                ctx.ui.notify(`${s.currentUnit.type} ${s.currentUnit.id} — deterministic policy rejection, wrote blocker placeholder (no retries) (#4973)`, "warning");
+                // Fall through to "continue" — do NOT enter the retry or db-unavailable paths.
+            }
+            else if (!triggerArtifactVerified && !isDbAvailable()) {
                 debugLog("postUnit", { phase: "artifact-verify-skip-db-unavailable", unitType: s.currentUnit.type, unitId: s.currentUnit.id });
                 const dbSkipDiag = diagnoseExpectedArtifact(s.currentUnit.type, s.currentUnit.id, s.basePath);
                 ctx.ui.notify(`Artifact missing for ${s.currentUnit.type} ${s.currentUnit.id} — DB unavailable, skipping retry.${dbSkipDiag ? ` Expected: ${dbSkipDiag}` : ""}`, "error");
             }
             else if (!triggerArtifactVerified) {
-                // #2883/#3595: If the artifact is missing because the tool invocation
-                // failed (malformed JSON) or was skipped (queued user message), retrying
-                // will produce the same failure. Pause auto-mode instead of looping.
                 if (s.lastToolInvocationError) {
                     const isUserSkip = /queued user message/i.test(s.lastToolInvocationError);
                     const errMsg = isUserSkip
@@ -815,58 +846,29 @@ export async function postUnitPreVerification(pctx, opts) {
                 if (hasExpectedArtifact) {
                     const retryKey = `${s.currentUnit.type}:${s.currentUnit.id}`;
                     const attempt = (s.verificationRetryCount.get(retryKey) ?? 0) + 1;
-                    s.verificationRetryCount.set(retryKey, attempt);
-                    if (attempt > MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES) {
-                        // #4175: For complete-milestone, a blocker placeholder is harmful —
-                        // the stub SUMMARY has no recovery value (milestone is terminal),
-                        // it does not update DB status (so deriveState never advances),
-                        // and it fools stopAuto's presence check into merging a milestone
-                        // that was never legitimately completed. Pause auto-mode with a
-                        // clear single failure signal and preserve the worktree branch.
-                        if (s.currentUnit.type === "complete-milestone") {
-                            debugLog("postUnit", {
-                                phase: "artifact-verify-pause-complete-milestone",
-                                unitType: s.currentUnit.type,
-                                unitId: s.currentUnit.id,
-                                attempt,
-                                maxRetries: MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES,
-                            });
-                            s.verificationRetryCount.delete(retryKey);
-                            s.pendingVerificationRetry = null;
-                            ctx.ui.notify(`Milestone ${s.currentUnit.id} verification failed after ${MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES} retries — worktree branch preserved. Re-run /gsd auto once blockers are resolved.`, "error");
-                            await pauseAuto(ctx, pi);
-                            return "dispatched";
-                        }
-                        // Retries exhausted — write a blocker placeholder so the pipeline
-                        // can advance past this stuck unit (#2653).
-                        debugLog("postUnit", {
-                            phase: "artifact-verify-escalate",
-                            unitType: s.currentUnit.type,
-                            unitId: s.currentUnit.id,
-                            attempt,
-                            maxRetries: MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES,
-                        });
-                        const reason = `Artifact verification failed after ${MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES} retries for ${s.currentUnit.type} "${s.currentUnit.id}".`;
-                        writeBlockerPlaceholder(s.currentUnit.type, s.currentUnit.id, s.basePath, reason);
-                        ctx.ui.notify(`${s.currentUnit.type} ${s.currentUnit.id} — verification retries exhausted (${MAX_VERIFICATION_RETRIES}), wrote blocker placeholder to advance pipeline`, "warning");
-                        // Reset retry count and fall through to "continue" so the loop
-                        // re-derives state with the placeholder in place.
+                    if (attempt > MAX_ARTIFACT_VERIFICATION_RETRIES) {
                         s.verificationRetryCount.delete(retryKey);
-                        s.pendingVerificationRetry = null;
-                        // Do NOT return "retry" — fall through to "continue" below.
-                    }
-                    else {
-                        s.pendingVerificationRetry = {
-                            unitId: s.currentUnit.id,
-                            failureContext: `Artifact verification failed: expected artifact for ${s.currentUnit.type} "${s.currentUnit.id}" was not found on disk after unit execution (attempt ${attempt}).`,
-                            attempt,
-                        };
-                        debugLog("postUnit", { phase: "artifact-verify-retry", unitType: s.currentUnit.type, unitId: s.currentUnit.id, attempt });
-                        ctx.ui.notify(`Artifact missing for ${s.currentUnit.type} ${s.currentUnit.id} — retrying (attempt ${attempt})`, "warning");
-                        return "retry";
+                        debugLog("postUnit", { phase: "artifact-verify-exhausted", unitType: s.currentUnit.type, unitId: s.currentUnit.id, attempt });
+                        ctx.ui.notify(`Artifact still missing for ${s.currentUnit.type} ${s.currentUnit.id} after ${MAX_ARTIFACT_VERIFICATION_RETRIES} retries — pausing auto-mode`, "error");
+                        await pauseAuto(ctx, pi);
+                        return "dispatched";
                     }
+                    s.verificationRetryCount.set(retryKey, attempt);
+                    s.pendingVerificationRetry = {
+                        unitId: s.currentUnit.id,
+                        failureContext: `Artifact verification failed: expected artifact for ${s.currentUnit.type} "${s.currentUnit.id}" was not found on disk after unit execution (attempt ${attempt}/${MAX_ARTIFACT_VERIFICATION_RETRIES}).`,
+                        attempt,
+                    };
+                    debugLog("postUnit", { phase: "artifact-verify-retry", unitType: s.currentUnit.type, unitId: s.currentUnit.id, attempt });
+                    ctx.ui.notify(`Artifact missing for ${s.currentUnit.type} ${s.currentUnit.id} — retrying (attempt ${attempt}/${MAX_ARTIFACT_VERIFICATION_RETRIES})`, "warning");
+                    return "retry";
                 }
             }
+            // Verification succeeded — clear the retry counter so a future failure
+            // of the same unit gets a full retry budget instead of the stale count.
+            if (triggerArtifactVerified) {
+                s.verificationRetryCount.delete(`${s.currentUnit.type}:${s.currentUnit.id}`);
+            }
         }
         else {
             // Hook unit completed — no additional processing needed
@@ -1064,8 +1066,11 @@ export async function postUnitPostVerification(pctx) {
                 }
                 // Write evidence JSON to slice artifacts directory
                 const slicePath = resolveSlicePath(s.basePath, mid, sid);
+                const evidenceFileName = `${sid}-PRE-EXEC-VERIFY.json`;
+                let evidencePath = join(".gsd", "milestones", mid, "slices", sid, evidenceFileName);
                 if (slicePath) {
                     writePreExecutionEvidence(result, slicePath, mid, sid);
+                    evidencePath = relative(s.basePath, join(slicePath, evidenceFileName)) || evidenceFileName;
                 }
                 if (uokFlags.gates) {
                     const failedChecks = result.checks
@@ -1100,9 +1105,11 @@ export async function postUnitPostVerification(pctx) {
                 if (result.status === "fail") {
                     const blockingChecks = result.checks.filter(c => !c.passed && c.blocking);
                     const blockingCount = blockingChecks.length;
-                    const details = blockingChecks.slice(0, 3).map(c => `  \u2022 ${c.message}`).join("\n");
-                    const suffix = blockingChecks.length > 3 ? `\n  \u2022 ...and ${blockingChecks.length - 3} more` : "";
-                    const evidenceNote = `\nSee ${sid}-PRE-EXEC-VERIFY.json for full details.`;
+                    const details = blockingChecks.slice(0, MAX_NOTIFICATION_DETAILS).map(formatPreExecutionCheckDetail).join("\n");
+                    const suffix = blockingChecks.length > MAX_NOTIFICATION_DETAILS
+                        ? `\n  ${NOTIFICATION_BULLET} ...and ${blockingChecks.length - MAX_NOTIFICATION_DETAILS} more`
+                        : "";
+                    const evidenceNote = `\nSee ${evidencePath} for full details.`;
                     ctx.ui.notify(`Pre-execution checks failed: ${blockingCount} blocking issue${blockingCount === 1 ? "" : "s"} found\n${details}${suffix}${evidenceNote}`, "error");
                     // Persist failure context so the next plan-slice re-dispatch can inject
                     // it into the prompt and break the infinite loop (#4551).