livepilot 1.18.1 → 1.18.2

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,80 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## 1.18.2 — Wonder cold-start + tie-break + genre catalog closure (April 24 2026)
+
+Second patch in the v1.18.x series. Three items from the v1.18.0/v1.18.1
+Known Issues list resolved. Test suite grew to 2785 pass, xfail marker
+removed (formerly 1, now 0).
+
+### Fixes
+
+- **#10 Wonder Mode zero-variant degradation on empty session context.**
+  `enter_wonder_mode` on an empty/sparse session was returning 3
+  IDENTICAL `analytical_only` variants all with intent "Analytical
+  suggestion for: <request>". Live-verified during v1.18.0 Test 4
+  ("I'm stuck" on a 4-track empty session). Fix: introduced
+  `_COLD_START_SEEDS` in `mcp_server/wonder_mode/engine.py` — three
+  distinct starting-point suggestions covering different families
+  (`device_creation × rhythmic` + `sound_design × harmonic` +
+  `mix × architecture-first`). When `executable_count == 0`, the
+  padding loop uses `build_cold_start_variant()` which pulls from
+  the seed set by index, producing genuinely distinct variants with
+  specific actionable `what_changed` / `why_it_matters` text.
+  Partial-match case (1-2 executable) still uses the generic
+  fallback to avoid mixing real moves with architecture-first seeds.
+
+- **#11 Experiment ranking tie-break coarseness.**
+  `ExperimentSet.ranked_branches()` was a single-key sort by score,
+  producing unstable rankings at score ties. Live-verified in v1.18.0
+  Test 8 — 3-branch experiment with `add_space` + `add_warmth` +
+  `widen_stereo` all scored 0.6 with no clear winner. Fix: composite
+  sort key via new `_branch_rank_key()` helper, in priority order:
+  (1) `-score` (primary, higher wins), (2) `-novelty_rank` (higher
+  novelty wins score ties — creative asks reward variation),
+  (3) `risk_rank` (lower risk wins secondary ties — safety default),
+  (4) `step_count` (simpler plans win tertiary ties),
+  (5) `branch_id` (deterministic final tiebreak for reproducibility).
+
+- **Concept packet catalog closure.** 13 new genre YAMLs
+  (drone, downtempo, lo_fi, boom_bap, footwork, techno,
+  detroit_techno, synthwave, deep_house, disco, soul, dub, hyperpop)
+  + 15 too-generic/narrow refs removed from 12 artist packets
+  (electronic ×5, electronica, bass_music, cinematic, acid_techno,
+  french_house, nu_disco, soulful_house, vaporwave, juke, jungle).
+  The xfailing `test_all_artist_genre_refs_resolve_strictly` test
+  is now a required green pass. The concept surface has full graph
+  closure — every artist→genre cross-reference resolves to an actual
+  genre YAML's `id` field.
+
+### Tests added / changed
+
+- `test_wonder_cold_start_has_distinct_variants` (new — guards
+  against regression to the 3-identical-generics degradation)
+- `test_experiment_tie_break_prefers_higher_novelty` (new — unexpected
+  > strong > safe at equal scores)
+- `test_experiment_tie_break_is_deterministic` (new — ranking stable
+  across input order)
+- `test_all_artist_genre_refs_resolve_strictly` (was xfailing, now
+  passing — xfail marker removed)
+- `test_concept_packets_count` (floor updated 14 → 27 genres)
+
+### Still open for v1.18.3 / v1.19
+
+5 items remain from the original v1.18.0 Known Issues list:
+
+- **#7 Packet `avoid` list runtime enforcement** (still advisory —
+  pre-flight check against tool args needed)
+- **#8 `locked_dimensions` runtime enforcement** (same pattern as #7)
+- **Experiment state continuity between branches** (before-snapshot
+  drift)
+- **Hybrid-packet compilation algorithm** (union/intersection logic
+  for "Basic Channel meets Dilla")
+- **Full architectural fix for #3** (route director Phase 6 through
+  semantic_move commits — big redesign, v1.19 scope)
+
+These all need new infrastructure or architectural decisions
+unsuitable for a patch release.
+
 ## 1.18.1 — Director HIGH-severity patches (April 23 2026)
 
 Patch release addressing 4 of the 12 known issues documented in v1.18.0.

package/mcp_server/__init__.py

@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 """LivePilot MCP Server — bridges MCP protocol to Ableton Live."""
-__version__ = "1.18.1"
+__version__ = "1.18.2"

package/mcp_server/experiment/models.py

@@ -194,6 +194,52 @@ class ExperimentBranch:
         return d
 
 
+# v1.18.2 #11: composite tie-break ranking for experiment branches.
+# Maps novelty_label / risk_label strings to integer ranks.
+_NOVELTY_RANK: dict[str, int] = {
+    "safe": 0,
+    "medium": 1,       # rarely used, but accept it for robustness
+    "strong": 1,
+    "unexpected": 2,
+    "bold": 2,         # alias in some producer outputs
+}
+_RISK_RANK: dict[str, int] = {
+    "low": 0,
+    "medium": 1,
+    "high": 2,
+}
+
+
+def _branch_rank_key(branch: "ExperimentBranch") -> tuple:
+    """Composite sort key for ExperimentSet.ranked_branches().
+
+    Returns a tuple (-score, -novelty, risk, step_count, branch_id) such
+    that Python's default ascending sort produces the desired ranking:
+    higher scores first, then higher novelty at score ties, then lower
+    risk under equal novelty, then simpler plans, then branch_id as a
+    deterministic final tiebreak.
+    """
+    score = float(getattr(branch, "score", 0.0) or 0.0)
+    seed = getattr(branch, "seed", None)
+
+    if seed is not None:
+        novelty_label = (seed.novelty_label or "").lower()
+        risk_label = (seed.risk_label or "").lower()
+    else:
+        novelty_label = ""
+        risk_label = ""
+
+    novelty_rank = _NOVELTY_RANK.get(novelty_label, 1)  # middle if unknown
+    risk_rank = _RISK_RANK.get(risk_label, 1)
+
+    plan = getattr(branch, "compiled_plan", None) or {}
+    step_count = int(plan.get("step_count", 0) or 0)
+
+    branch_id = getattr(branch, "branch_id", "") or ""
+
+    return (-score, -novelty_rank, risk_rank, step_count, branch_id)
+
+
 @dataclass
 class ExperimentSet:
     """A collection of branches being compared for one request."""
@@ -215,9 +261,33 @@ class ExperimentSet:
         return None
 
     def ranked_branches(self) -> list[ExperimentBranch]:
-        """Return branches sorted by score descending."""
+        """Return evaluated branches sorted by composite rank.
+
+        v1.18.2 #11 fix: pre-fix this was a single-key sort by score,
+        which produced unstable rankings at score ties (live-verified in
+        v1.18.0 Test 8 — three branches at 0.6 with no winner).
+
+        Sort keys, in priority order:
+          1. -score                     — higher score wins
+          2. -novelty_rank              — higher novelty wins at score ties
+                                          (creative asks reward variation)
+          3. risk_rank                  — lower risk wins secondary ties
+                                          (safety default under equal novelty)
+          4. step_count                 — simpler plans win tertiary ties
+          5. branch_id                  — deterministic final tiebreak
+                                          (stable ranking across equal branches)
+
+        Novelty labels rank: "safe"=0, "strong"=1, "unexpected"=2, "bold"=2.
+        Risk labels rank: "low"=0, "medium"=1, "high"=2.
+        Unknown labels default to the middle (1).
+        """
         evaluated = [b for b in self.branches if b.status == "evaluated"]
-        return sorted(evaluated, key=lambda b: -b.score)
+        return sorted(evaluated, key=_branch_rank_key)
+
+    # expose the key function for testing + custom rankers
+    def rank_key_for(self, branch: "ExperimentBranch") -> tuple:
+        """Return the composite rank key for a branch (for tie-break debugging)."""
+        return _branch_rank_key(branch)
 
     def to_dict(self) -> dict:
         return {

package/mcp_server/wonder_mode/engine.py

@@ -321,6 +321,82 @@ def build_analytical_variant(label: str, request_text: str, novelty_level: float
     }
 
 
+# v1.18.2 #10 fix: distinct cold-start variant seeds for empty/sparse
+# sessions. Used when no semantic moves match the request. Each seed has
+# a specific `what_changed` + `why_it_matters` covering a different
+# starting-point family (device_creation × rhythm + device_creation ×
+# harmony + mix-architecture-first). Replaces the 3-identical-generics
+# degradation that v1.18.0 Test 4 surfaced.
+_COLD_START_SEEDS: list[dict] = [
+    {
+        "label": "safe",
+        "family": "device_creation",
+        "intent": "Begin with a rhythmic foundation",
+        "what_changed": "Load a drum kit (Drum Rack or Core Kit) on a fresh MIDI track, program a 4-bar kick-and-hat pattern",
+        "what_preserved": "blank slate — first move sets the tempo and grid foundation",
+        "why_it_matters": "Every track needs a rhythmic anchor before timbral or structural work. Safe starting point — drums-first is the most common composition entry.",
+        "novelty_level": 0.3,
+        "identity_effect": "establishes",
+    },
+    {
+        "label": "strong",
+        "family": "sound_design",
+        "intent": "Begin with a harmonic source",
+        "what_changed": "Load Drift or Meld on a MIDI track with a chord-stab patch (short attack, moderate release, slight detune), sketch a 2-bar chord pattern",
+        "what_preserved": "tempo and key are still open to discovery — lets the harmony suggest the rhythm",
+        "why_it_matters": "A harmonic source opens a different emotional palette than drums-first. Chord-first composition (Isolée / Luomo style) is less common but produces distinctive results.",
+        "novelty_level": 0.55,
+        "identity_effect": "establishes",
+    },
+    {
+        "label": "unexpected",
+        "family": "mix",
+        "intent": "Begin with the space, not the source",
+        "what_changed": "Configure return tracks BEFORE any instrument work — set up Return A with Convolution Reverb (cathedral IR) and Return B with Echo in ping-pong mode",
+        "what_preserved": "the blank slate IS the canvas; the sends are the frame you'll paint into",
+        "why_it_matters": "Dub techno and ambient producers (Basic Channel, Gas, Henke) build sound AROUND pre-configured sends. Unusual but genre-appropriate starting point.",
+        "novelty_level": 0.85,
+        "identity_effect": "establishes",
+    },
+]
+
+
+def build_cold_start_variant(seed: dict, request_text: str, variant_id: str = "") -> dict:
+    """Build a cold-start variant seed for an empty/sparse session.
+
+    Used when no semantic moves match the request. Returns a variant with
+    distinct, actionable `what_changed` / `why_it_matters` text — NOT the
+    generic 'No matching moves found' fallback. Each seed covers a
+    different starting-point family; together they give the user three
+    genuinely distinct first-moves to choose from.
+
+    See `_COLD_START_SEEDS` for the seed set. The variant is
+    `analytical_only=True` (no compiled_plan) — turning these into
+    one-click executable plans is a v1.19 enhancement.
+    """
+    return {
+        "variant_id": variant_id,
+        "label": seed["label"],
+        "move_id": "",
+        "family": seed["family"],
+        "intent": seed["intent"],
+        "what_changed": seed["what_changed"],
+        "what_preserved": seed["what_preserved"],
+        "why_it_matters": seed["why_it_matters"],
+        "identity_effect": seed["identity_effect"],
+        "novelty_level": seed["novelty_level"],
+        "taste_fit": 0.5,
+        "targets_snapshot": {},
+        "compiled_plan": None,
+        "score": 0.0,
+        "rank": 0,
+        "score_breakdown": {},
+        "analytical_only": True,
+        "distinctness_reason": f"Cold-start seed ({seed['family']}) — empty session, no moves matched",
+        "cold_start": True,
+    }
+
+
 # ── Taste fit scoring ────────────────────────────────────────────
 
 
@@ -577,16 +653,37 @@ def generate_wonder_variants(
 
     executable_count = len(variants)
 
-    # Pad with analytical variants
-    while len(variants) < 3:
-        idx = len(variants)
-        v = build_analytical_variant(
-            label=labels[idx],
-            request_text=request_text,
-            novelty_level=_NOVELTY_LEVELS.get(labels[idx], 0.5),
-            variant_id=f"{set_prefix}_{labels[idx]}",
-        )
-        variants.append(v)
+    # v1.18.2 #10 fix: when NO executable moves matched, seed from the
+    # cold-start distinct-starting-points set instead of padding with
+    # identical generic analytical variants. Pre-fix, cold-start on an
+    # empty session returned 3 variants all with the same generic
+    # "No matching moves found" text — unhelpful to the user.
+    #
+    # The partial-match case (1 or 2 executable variants) still pads with
+    # the generic analytical fallback because we don't want to mix real
+    # move-based variants with architecture-first seeds — that would
+    # confuse the presentation.
+    if executable_count == 0:
+        while len(variants) < 3:
+            idx = len(variants)
+            seed = _COLD_START_SEEDS[idx]
+            v = build_cold_start_variant(
+                seed=seed,
+                request_text=request_text,
+                variant_id=f"{set_prefix}_{seed['label']}",
+            )
+            variants.append(v)
+    else:
+        # Partial-match: pad to 3 with generic analytical variants
+        while len(variants) < 3:
+            idx = len(variants)
+            v = build_analytical_variant(
+                label=labels[idx],
+                request_text=request_text,
+                novelty_level=_NOVELTY_LEVELS.get(labels[idx], 0.5),
+                variant_id=f"{set_prefix}_{labels[idx]}",
+            )
+            variants.append(v)
 
     novelty_band = 0.5
     taste_evidence = 0
@@ -603,7 +700,13 @@ def generate_wonder_variants(
 
     degraded_reason = ""
     if executable_count == 0:
-        degraded_reason = "No matching executable moves found"
+        # v1.18.2 #10: cold-start path — distinct starting-point seeds
+        # rather than identical-generic padding.
+        degraded_reason = (
+            "No matching executable moves — cold-start variants seeded "
+            "from distinct starting-point families (device_creation × 2 "
+            "+ mix-architecture-first)"
+        )
     elif executable_count == 1:
         degraded_reason = "Only 1 distinct executable move found"
 

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "livepilot",
-  "version": "1.18.1",
+  "version": "1.18.2",
   "mcpName": "io.github.dreamrec/livepilot",
   "description": "Agentic production system for Ableton Live 12 — 427 tools, 52 domains. Device atlas (1305 devices), sample engine (Splice + browser + filesystem), auto-composition, spectral perception, technique memory, creative intelligence (12 engines)",
   "author": "Pilot Studio",

package/remote_script/LivePilot/__init__.py

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Entry point for the ControlSurface. Ableton calls create_instance(c_instance)
 when this script is selected in Preferences > Link, Tempo & MIDI.
 """
 
-__version__ = "1.18.1"
+__version__ = "1.18.2"
 
 from _Framework.ControlSurface import ControlSurface
 from . import router

package/server.json

@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
     "url": "https://github.com/dreamrec/LivePilot",
     "source": "github"
   },
-  "version": "1.18.1",
+  "version": "1.18.2",
   "packages": [
     {
       "registryType": "npm",
       "identifier": "livepilot",
-      "version": "1.18.1",
+      "version": "1.18.2",
       "transport": {
         "type": "stdio"
       }