fix: override stale terminal state in select_ready_issue when live issue is ready-for-delegation

Co-authored-by: Steake <530040+Steake@users.noreply.github.com>

Author: Copilot

repo_architect.py

@@ -2316,25 +2316,38 @@ def select_ready_issue(
     if len(in_flight) >= config.max_concurrent_delegated:
         return None
 
-    # Build blocked sets from work state
-    blocked_fingerprints: Set[str] = set()
-    blocked_issue_numbers: Set[int] = set()
+    # Build blocked sets from in-flight items (unconditional blockers).
+    in_flight_fingerprints: Set[str] = set()
+    in_flight_issue_numbers: Set[int] = set()
     blocked_lanes: Set[str] = set()
     for it in in_flight:
         if it.get("fingerprint"):
-            blocked_fingerprints.add(it["fingerprint"])
+            in_flight_fingerprints.add(it["fingerprint"])
         if it.get("issue_number"):
-            blocked_issue_numbers.add(int(it["issue_number"]))
+            in_flight_issue_numbers.add(int(it["issue_number"]))
         if it.get("lane"):
             blocked_lanes.add(it["lane"])
 
-    # Block terminal, superseded, or explicitly blocked items by identity.
+    # Build terminal blocked sets from work state.
+    # merged: irreversible — cannot be revived under any circumstances.
+    # closed_unmerged / blocked / superseded: stale — overridable when the live
+    # GitHub issue has been reset to ready-for-delegation.
+    merged_fingerprints: Set[str] = set()
+    merged_issue_numbers: Set[int] = set()
+    stale_terminal_by_issue_num: Dict[int, Dict[str, Any]] = {}
+    stale_terminal_fingerprints: Set[str] = set()
+
     for it in items:
-        if it.get("merged") or it.get("closed_unmerged") or it.get("blocked") or it.get("superseded"):
+        if it.get("merged"):
+            if it.get("fingerprint"):
+                merged_fingerprints.add(it["fingerprint"])
+            if it.get("issue_number"):
+                merged_issue_numbers.add(int(it["issue_number"]))
+        elif it.get("closed_unmerged") or it.get("blocked") or it.get("superseded"):
             if it.get("fingerprint"):
-                blocked_fingerprints.add(it["fingerprint"])
+                stale_terminal_fingerprints.add(it["fingerprint"])
             if it.get("issue_number"):
-                blocked_issue_numbers.add(int(it["issue_number"]))
+                stale_terminal_by_issue_num[int(it["issue_number"])] = it
 
     # Fetch eligible issues from GitHub
     candidate_issues = _list_github_issues_by_labels(
@@ -2355,17 +2368,45 @@ def select_ready_issue(
             for lbl in issue.get("labels", [])
             if isinstance(lbl, dict)
         }
-        # Skip lifecycle-blocked issues
+        # Skip lifecycle-blocked issues (live-state check — authoritative).
         if issue_labels & blocking_lifecycle:
             continue
 
         issue_num = issue.get("number")
-        if issue_num and int(issue_num) in blocked_issue_numbers:
+
+        # Unconditional blocks: in-flight or permanently merged.
+        if issue_num and int(issue_num) in in_flight_issue_numbers:
             continue
+        if issue_num and int(issue_num) in merged_issue_numbers:
+            continue
+
+        # Stale-terminal check: overridable when live issue signals readiness.
+        revived = False
+        if issue_num and int(issue_num) in stale_terminal_by_issue_num:
+            if "ready-for-delegation" in issue_labels:
+                # Live GitHub state is authoritative — clear the stale terminal
+                # state so work_state remains coherent after this selection.
+                stale_item = stale_terminal_by_issue_num[int(issue_num)]
+                stale_item["closed_unmerged"] = False
+                stale_item["blocked"] = False
+                stale_item["superseded"] = False
+                stale_item["delegation_state"] = "ready-for-delegation"
+                stale_item["lifecycle_fact_state"] = "ready-for-delegation"
+                stale_item["lifecycle_inferred_state"] = "ready-for-redelegation"
+                stale_item["revived_from_stale_terminal_state"] = True
+                stale_item["updated_at"] = dt.datetime.now(dt.timezone.utc).isoformat()
+                revived = True
+            else:
+                continue
 
         body = issue.get("body") or ""
         fp = _extract_fingerprint_from_body(body)
-        if fp and fp in blocked_fingerprints:
+
+        if fp and fp in in_flight_fingerprints:
+            continue
+        if fp and fp in merged_fingerprints:
+            continue
+        if fp and fp in stale_terminal_fingerprints and not revived:
             continue
 
         lane = _extract_lane_from_body(body)
@@ -2378,6 +2419,10 @@ def select_ready_issue(
         if config.lane_filter and lane and lane != config.lane_filter:
             continue
 
+        if revived:
+            issue = dict(issue)  # shallow copy — don't mutate the original list
+            issue["revived_from_stale_terminal_state"] = True
+
         filtered.append((issue, fp, lane))
 
     if not filtered:
@@ -3150,6 +3195,7 @@ def run_execution_cycle(config: Config) -> Dict[str, Any]:
     delegation_result = delegate_to_copilot(config, selected, work_state, run_id)
     save_work_state(config, work_state)
 
+    revived = bool(selected.get("revived_from_stale_terminal_state"))
     if not config.enable_live_delegation:
         summary_line = (
             f"[dry-run] delegation requested for issue #{selected.get('number')} "
@@ -3160,6 +3206,13 @@ def run_execution_cycle(config: Config) -> Dict[str, Any]:
             f"{delegation_result.get('action', 'delegation_requested')} issue "
             f"#{selected.get('number')} — {selected.get('title', '')}"
         )
+    if revived:
+        summary_line += " [revived from stale terminal state]"
+        log(
+            f"Issue #{selected.get('number')} revived: stale cached terminal state overridden "
+            f"by live ready-for-delegation label.",
+            json_mode=config.log_json,
+        )
     log(summary_line, json_mode=config.log_json)
 
     result: Dict[str, Any] = {
@@ -3170,6 +3223,7 @@ def run_execution_cycle(config: Config) -> Dict[str, Any]:
             "number": selected.get("number"),
             "title": selected.get("title"),
             "url": selected.get("html_url"),
+            "revived_from_stale_terminal_state": revived,
         },
         "delegation": delegation_result,
         "reconcile": reconcile_result,

tests/test_repo_architect.py

@@ -2708,7 +2708,248 @@ def test_active_fingerprints_in_work_state(self) -> None:
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# 37. Delegation dry-run behavior
+# 37. Stale terminal state revival (live-state authority)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+class TestStaleTerminalRevival(unittest.TestCase):
+    """Verify that live GitHub ready state overrides stale cached terminal state."""
+
+    def _make_config_exec(self, **overrides: Any) -> ra.Config:
+        cfg = _make_config(mode="execution")
+        return dataclasses.replace(
+            cfg, github_token="tok", github_repo="x/y", max_concurrent_delegated=5,
+            **overrides
+        )
+
+    def _make_issue(
+        self,
+        number: int = 66,
+        labels: Optional[List[str]] = None,
+        body: str = "",
+    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        if labels is None:
+            labels = [
+                "arch-gap", "copilot-task", "needs-implementation",
+                "ready-for-delegation",
+            ]
+        return {
+            "number": number,
+            "title": f"Fix issue {number}",
+            "html_url": f"https://github.com/x/y/issues/{number}",
+            "body": body or f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: aabbccddeeff{number:02x} -->",
+            "labels": [{"name": lbl} for lbl in labels],
+            "state": "open",
+        }
+
+    def _make_stale_terminal_ws(
+        self,
+        number: int = 66,
+        fp: str = "aabbccddeeff42",
+        closed_unmerged: bool = True,
+        blocked: bool = False,
+        superseded: bool = False,
+    ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "items": [{
+                "fingerprint": fp,
+                "issue_number": number,
+                "lane": "runtime",
+                "delegation_state": "delegation-failed",
+                "merged": False,
+                "closed_unmerged": closed_unmerged,
+                "blocked": blocked,
+                "superseded": superseded,
+                "pr_number": None,
+                "pr_url": None,
+                "pr_state": None,
+                "objective": "",
+                "assignee": None,
+                "gap_title": "x",
+                "gap_subsystem": "runtime",
+                "issue_state": "open",
+                "lifecycle_fact_state": "closed-unmerged",
+                "lifecycle_inferred_state": "needs-replanning",
+                "created_at": "2025-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
+                "updated_at": "2025-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
+                "run_id": "r1",
+            }]
+        }
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 1: stale closed_unmerged + live issue open/ready → revived
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_stale_closed_unmerged_revived_when_live_issue_ready(self) -> None:
+        """Stale cached closed_unmerged must not block when live issue is ready."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(number=66, body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->")
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=True)
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            result = ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result, "Issue should be revived and selected")
+        self.assertEqual(result["number"], 66)
+        self.assertTrue(
+            result.get("revived_from_stale_terminal_state"),
+            "Selected issue must carry revival flag",
+        )
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 2: stale closed_unmerged + live issue still blocked by label
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_stale_closed_unmerged_not_revived_when_live_issue_blocked(self) -> None:
+        """Stale terminal state is not overridden when live issue has blocking labels."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(
+            number=66,
+            labels=["arch-gap", "copilot-task", "needs-implementation",
+                    "blocked-by-dependency"],
+            body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->",
+        )
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=True)
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            result = ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result, "Blocked live issue must not be selected")
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 3: stale terminal + live issue has open-PR label
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_stale_terminal_not_revived_when_live_issue_has_pr_open_label(self) -> None:
+        """A live pr-open label is a genuine blocker and must prevent revival."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(
+            number=66,
+            labels=["arch-gap", "copilot-task", "needs-implementation",
+                    "ready-for-delegation", "pr-open"],
+            body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->",
+        )
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=True)
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            result = ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result, "pr-open label must prevent revival")
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 4: merged work state is irreversible — never revived
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_merged_work_state_not_revived_even_if_live_ready(self) -> None:
+        """merged=True is a permanent terminal state and must not be revived."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(number=66, body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->")
+        ws: Dict[str, Any] = {
+            "items": [{
+                "fingerprint": fp,
+                "issue_number": 66,
+                "lane": "runtime",
+                "delegation_state": "done",
+                "merged": True,
+                "closed_unmerged": False,
+                "blocked": False,
+                "superseded": False,
+            }]
+        }
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            result = ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result, "merged items must never be revived")
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 5: work state remains coherent after revival (no contradictory flags)
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_work_state_coherent_after_revival(self) -> None:
+        """After revival the work state item must have no contradictory terminal flags."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(number=66, body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->")
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=True)
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        item = ws["items"][0]
+        self.assertFalse(item["closed_unmerged"], "closed_unmerged must be cleared")
+        self.assertFalse(item["blocked"], "blocked must be cleared")
+        self.assertFalse(item["superseded"], "superseded must be cleared")
+        self.assertEqual(item["delegation_state"], "ready-for-delegation")
+        self.assertTrue(item.get("revived_from_stale_terminal_state"))
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 6: stale blocked flag revived when live issue ready
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_stale_blocked_flag_revived_when_live_issue_ready(self) -> None:
+        """Stale blocked=True must also be overridable by live readiness."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(number=66, body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->")
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(
+            number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=False, blocked=True
+        )
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            result = ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result)
+        self.assertTrue(result.get("revived_from_stale_terminal_state"))
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 7: live issue lacks ready-for-delegation → stale terminal stands
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_stale_terminal_blocks_when_live_issue_lacks_ready_label(self) -> None:
+        """Without ready-for-delegation label, stale terminal state must still block."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(
+            number=66,
+            labels=["arch-gap", "copilot-task", "needs-implementation"],  # no ready-for-delegation
+            body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->",
+        )
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=True)
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec()
+        with patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]):
+            result = ra.select_ready_issue(config, ws)
+
+        self.assertIsNone(result)
+
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    # Case 8: run_execution_cycle output reflects revival
+    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
+    def test_run_execution_cycle_output_reflects_revival(self) -> None:
+        """run_execution_cycle output JSON must expose revived_from_stale_terminal_state."""
+        fp = "aabbccddeeff42"
+        issue = self._make_issue(number=66, body=f"<!-- arch-gap-fingerprint: {fp} -->")
+        ws = self._make_stale_terminal_ws(number=66, fp=fp, closed_unmerged=True)
+
+        config = self._make_config_exec(enable_live_delegation=False)
+
+        with (
+            patch.object(ra, "load_work_state", return_value=ws),
+            patch.object(ra, "save_work_state"),
+            patch.object(ra, "reconcile_pr_state", return_value={"updated": 0, "prs_found": 0, "details": []}),
+            patch.object(ra, "_list_github_issues_by_labels", return_value=[issue]),
+            patch.object(ra, "delegate_to_copilot", return_value={"action": "dry_run", "issue_number": 66}),
+            patch.object(ra, "write_step_summary"),
+        ):
+            result = ra.run_execution_cycle(config)
+
+        self.assertEqual(result["status"], "execution_cycle_complete")
+        self.assertIsNotNone(result["selected_issue"])
+        self.assertEqual(result["selected_issue"]["number"], 66)
+        self.assertTrue(
+            result["selected_issue"].get("revived_from_stale_terminal_state"),
+            "Output JSON must declare revival",
+        )
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# 38. Delegation dry-run behavior
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 class TestDelegationDryRun(unittest.TestCase):