Harden owner-friction and event-spine truth gates

Add direct compliance-mode audit consumer regression tests, section-scoped current-truth framing validation, and an explicit operator-friction promotion contract. Keep historical evidence mentions legal while making current front-door drift fail validation.

Constraint: Current direction is owner-operated harness-first; owner friction may be promoted only with source links and closure evidence.

Rejected: Whole-file keyword bans | they false-positive on historical evidence and negated non-goal language.

Confidence: high

Scope-risk: narrow

Directive: Future owner-friction work must preserve source-log, promoted-artifact, and closure-evidence links before claiming closed status.

Tested: .venv/bin/python -m pytest tests/integration/test_audit_sink_isolation.py tests/acceptance/test_hook_lifecycle_flow.py tests/test_event_spine_wiring.py tests/lifecycle/test_run_event_spine.py tests/test_docs_consistency.py -q; .venv/bin/python scripts/validate_docs_consistency.py; .venv/bin/python scripts/validate_event_spine_wiring.py; .venv/bin/python scripts/detect_stale_plans.py; .venv/bin/ruff check scripts/validate_docs_consistency.py scripts/audit_test_quality.py tests/test_docs_consistency.py tests/lifecycle/test_run_event_spine.py; .venv/bin/ruff format --check scripts/validate_docs_consistency.py scripts/audit_test_quality.py tests/test_docs_consistency.py tests/lifecycle/test_run_event_spine.py; .venv/bin/mypy scripts/validate_docs_consistency.py scripts/audit_test_quality.py tests/test_docs_consistency.py tests/lifecycle/test_run_event_spine.py; git diff --check

Not-tested: Full repository test suite.

Author: johnteee

docs/generated/docs-inventory.md

@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ Do not edit this file manually — regenerate instead.
 | `processes/opencode-gap-watch.md` | working | 2678 | `e6ed2ad1d5b7` |
 | `processes/postfix-reaudit-process.md` | working | 3882 | `14fc6168be6d` |
 | `processes/quarterly-competitor-refresh.md` | working | 2818 | `6d6be956fa26` |
-| `processes/signal-to-acceptance-gap.md` | working | 7776 | `916d78ec2d67` |
+| `processes/signal-to-acceptance-gap.md` | working | 8459 | `fa7eb4937de8` |
 | `product-contract.md` | constitution | 3926 | `c3eb2e2bd505` |
 | `proposals/001-circular-dependencies.md` | working | 7916 | `87e27acd99d7` |
 | `proposals/002-approval-manager-refactoring.md` | working | 10851 | `0bf294f88177` |
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ Do not edit this file manually — regenerate instead.
 | `work-log/m4-approval-sliceB-blocked-2026-06-13.md` | archive | 7347 | `3981ed82bc08` |
 | `work-log/m4-budget-stays-inline-2026-06-13.md` | archive | 5727 | `0e7a6ee74954` |
 | `work-log/m5-hooks-observability-only-2026-06-13.md` | archive | 5000 | `8a87eaee4d15` |
-| `work-log/operator-friction-log.md` | working | 3910 | `6dd6635ed859` |
+| `work-log/operator-friction-log.md` | working | 4257 | `70fe078506bf` |
 | `work-log/p0-p1-governance-implementation-ledger-2026-06-11.md` | archive | 5212 | `0b72cd69de32` |
 | `work-log/parallel-phase-0-implementation-report-2026-06-04.md` | archive | 13181 | `098186167459` |
 | `work-log/phase-0-governance-closure-report-2026-06-04.md` | archive | 4309 | `2af44267aaf4` |

docs/processes/signal-to-acceptance-gap.md

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 **Status:** Active process
 **Frequency:** Per signal (continuous), reviewed quarterly
 **Owner:** TBD
-**Last reviewed:** 2026-06-05
+**Last reviewed:** 2026-06-14
 
 ## Purpose
 
@@ -85,6 +85,19 @@ operator friction log until the owner validates or rejects them. Signals routed
 to **Defer** do not create new surveys or strategy docs unless a documented
 review trigger applies.
 
+### Operator-Friction Promotion
+
+Owner-written entries in `docs/work-log/operator-friction-log.md` may promote
+directly to **Adopt** when they expose a real harness gap in approval, audit,
+rollback, cost, receipt, state, validation, or ergonomics. Hypothesis entries
+from competitor or community signals must be owner-validated before promotion.
+
+Every promoted friction entry must carry its source log anchor into the ticket
+or acceptance gap, and the friction log's `Promoted to` field must point back to
+that artifact. A closed promoted entry must also link closure evidence: commit,
+test, or document. If either link is missing, the work is still open even when a
+patch exists.
+
 ### Phase 3: Acceptance Gap Filing
 
 For signals promoted to acceptance gaps:

docs/work-log/operator-friction-log.md

@@ -36,6 +36,10 @@ Use this log when:
   friction in real use or repository evidence shows a governance gap.
 - A closed entry must cite the commit, test, or document that resolved it; `n/a`
   is allowed only for open or rejected entries.
+- A promoted entry must cite the ticket or acceptance-gap artifact in
+  `Promoted to`; `n/a` is allowed only before promotion or for rejected entries.
+- Closing promoted work requires both links: the downstream artifact in
+  `Promoted to` and the commit/test/doc in `Closure evidence`.
 - Do not use this log for public positioning, competitor ranking, or feature
   parity requests.
 - Agents may ask the intake prompts below, but must not answer them on the
@@ -77,8 +81,8 @@ fields only when the entry is promoted to work.
 - **Actual:** What happened instead.
 - **Harness impact:** approval | audit | rollback | cost | receipt | state | validation | ergonomics
 - **Status:** open | closed | rejected
-- **Closure evidence:** commit/test/doc link, or `n/a`
-- **Promoted to:** ticket/acceptance-gap link, or `n/a`
+- **Closure evidence:** commit/test/doc link; `n/a` only while open or rejected
+- **Promoted to:** ticket/acceptance-gap link; `n/a` only before promotion or when rejected
 ```
 
 ## Owner Evidence Entries

scripts/audit_test_quality.py

@@ -350,13 +350,13 @@ def classify_test_type(file_path: Path, source_text: str | None = None) -> str:
 
 def metrics_to_json(all_metrics: list[FileMetrics], total_nodes: int) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """Convert metrics to JSON schema."""
-    files_data = []
+    files_data: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
 
     for metrics in all_metrics:
         if metrics.has_syntax_error:
             continue
 
-        file_data = {
+        file_data: dict[str, Any] = {
             'path': _repo_relative(metrics.path),
             'collected_tests': len(metrics.test_functions),
             'test_type': metrics.test_type,

scripts/validate_docs_consistency.py

@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@
 )
 ROADMAP_DOCUMENTATION_TRUTH = re.compile(r'documentation-current-truth', re.IGNORECASE)
 ROADMAP_DOC_VS_HEAD = re.compile(r'doc-vs-head', re.IGNORECASE)
+CURRENT_DIRECTION_FORBIDDEN_README = ('aspirational adoption',)
+CURRENT_DIRECTION_FORBIDDEN_INDEX_CURRENT = (
+    'What can a daily user trust today?',
+    'Current daily-driver behavior',
+    'Ticket execution order (daily-driver)',
+)
+CURRENT_DIRECTION_FORBIDDEN_ROADMAP = (
+    'Packaging and adoption',
+    'general-user trust onboarding',
+    'external-facing release channels',
+)
 ROADMAP_TABLE_SEPARATOR = re.compile(r'^\|[-:\s|]+\|$')
 ROADMAP_EXIT_COLUMNS = ('Exit Evidence', 'Exit Criteria', 'Risk')
 ROADMAP_REQUIRED_ROW_FIELDS = ('Owner', 'Status', 'Confidence', 'Next Gate')
@@ -664,6 +675,90 @@ def validate_roadmap_status(roadmap_text: str) -> list[str]:
     return errors
 
 
+def _markdown_section(text: str, heading: str) -> str:
+    lines = text.splitlines()
+    start_index: int | None = None
+    heading_level = len(heading) - len(heading.lstrip('#'))
+    for index, line in enumerate(lines):
+        if line.strip() == heading:
+            start_index = index
+            break
+    if start_index is None:
+        return ''
+
+    end_index = len(lines)
+    for index in range(start_index + 1, len(lines)):
+        line = lines[index]
+        if not line.startswith('#'):
+            continue
+        level = len(line) - len(line.lstrip('#'))
+        if level <= heading_level:
+            end_index = index
+            break
+    return '\n'.join(lines[start_index:end_index])
+
+
+def validate_current_truth_framing(
+    *,
+    readme_text: str,
+    docs_index_text: str,
+    roadmap_text: str,
+) -> list[str]:
+    """Keep current-truth front doors aligned to owner-operated harness direction."""
+    errors: list[str] = []
+    readme_header = '\n'.join(readme_text.splitlines()[:8])
+    index_current = _markdown_section(docs_index_text, '## Current Truth')
+    index_start = _markdown_section(docs_index_text, '## Start Here')
+    roadmap_horizons = _markdown_section(roadmap_text, '## Roadmap Horizons')
+    roadmap_header = roadmap_text.split('## Purpose', 1)[0]
+
+    if 'owner-operator harness-first current direction' not in readme_header:
+        errors.append(
+            'README.md direction record must stay owner-operator harness-first.'
+        )
+    if 'owner-operator' not in index_start:
+        errors.append(
+            'docs/INDEX.md Start Here must frame current use as owner-operated.'
+        )
+    if 'owner-operated' not in index_current:
+        errors.append(
+            'docs/INDEX.md Current Truth must frame current use as owner-operated.'
+        )
+    if 'owner-operator is the current validated persona' not in roadmap_header:
+        errors.append(
+            'docs/roadmap-status.md must name owner-operator as the current '
+            'validated persona.'
+        )
+    if 'not current goals' not in roadmap_header:
+        errors.append(
+            'docs/roadmap-status.md must state external adoption/hosted expansion '
+            'are not current goals.'
+        )
+
+    for phrase in CURRENT_DIRECTION_FORBIDDEN_README:
+        if phrase in readme_header:
+            errors.append(
+                f'README.md direction record contains outdated phrase {phrase!r}.'
+            )
+    for phrase in CURRENT_DIRECTION_FORBIDDEN_INDEX_CURRENT:
+        if phrase in index_start or phrase in index_current:
+            errors.append(
+                f'docs/INDEX.md current-truth sections contain outdated phrase '
+                f'{phrase!r}.'
+            )
+    for phrase in CURRENT_DIRECTION_FORBIDDEN_ROADMAP:
+        if phrase in roadmap_horizons:
+            errors.append(
+                f'docs/roadmap-status.md Roadmap Horizons contain outdated phrase '
+                f'{phrase!r}.'
+            )
+
+    return errors
+
+
+validate_current_direction_claims = validate_current_truth_framing
+
+
 def _normalize_roadmap_status(value: str) -> str:
     return re.sub(r'[*_`]', '', value).strip().lower()
 
@@ -1185,6 +1280,7 @@ def validate_docs_consistency(
     catalog_path: Path | None = None,
     use_cases_path: Path | None = None,
     roadmap_status_path: Path | None = None,
+    docs_index_path: Path | None = None,
     pyproject_path: Path | None = None,
     coverage_omit_ledger_path: Path | None = None,
     dependency_audit_policy_path: Path | None = None,
@@ -1214,6 +1310,7 @@ def validate_docs_consistency(
     roadmap_status_doc_path = roadmap_status_path or (
         _REPO_ROOT / 'docs' / 'roadmap-status.md'
     )
+    docs_index_doc_path = docs_index_path or (_REPO_ROOT / 'docs' / 'INDEX.md')
     pyproject_doc_path = pyproject_path or (_REPO_ROOT / 'pyproject.toml')
     coverage_omit_ledger_doc_path = coverage_omit_ledger_path or (
         _REPO_ROOT / 'docs' / 'governance' / 'coverage-omit-ledger.md'
@@ -1242,6 +1339,11 @@ def validate_docs_consistency(
         if roadmap_status_doc_path.is_file()
         else ''
     )
+    docs_index_text = (
+        docs_index_doc_path.read_text(encoding='utf-8')
+        if docs_index_doc_path.is_file()
+        else ''
+    )
 
     if check_providers:
         if architecture_path.is_file() and usage_doc_path.is_file():
@@ -1415,6 +1517,13 @@ def validate_docs_consistency(
             errors.extend(
                 validate_index_status_vocabulary(index_path.read_text(encoding='utf-8'))
             )
+        errors.extend(
+            validate_current_truth_framing(
+                readme_text=readme_text,
+                docs_index_text=docs_index_text,
+                roadmap_text=roadmap_status_text,
+            )
+        )
 
         errors.extend(
             validate_durable_docs_language(

tests/lifecycle/test_run_event_spine.py

@@ -24,10 +24,11 @@
     ToolRequest,
     audit_event_to_run_event_type,
 )
-from teaagent.errors import ToolPermissionError
+from teaagent.errors import AuditDurabilityError, ToolPermissionError
 from teaagent.runner._events import (
     _AUDIT_EVENT_TO_RUN_EVENT_TYPE,
     _RUN_EVENT_TO_AUDIT_EVENT_TYPE,
+    register_audit_consumer,
     run_event_to_audit_event_type,
 )
 
@@ -121,6 +122,39 @@ def failing_critical(_: RunEvent) -> None:
         spine.emit(RunEventType.RUN_STARTED, 'run-1', {'task': 'test'})
 
 
+def test_audit_consumer_durability_failure_is_isolated_without_compliance(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """Audit consumer failures stay isolated unless compliance mode is enabled."""
+    spine = EventSpine()
+    audit = AuditLogger(compliance_mode=False)
+
+    def failing_record(event_type: str, run_id: str, **payload: Any) -> None:
+        raise AuditDurabilityError('disk failed')
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(audit, 'record', failing_record)
+    register_audit_consumer(spine, audit)
+
+    spine.emit(RunEventType.RUN_STARTED, 'run-1', {'task': 'test'})
+
+
+def test_audit_consumer_durability_failure_propagates_with_compliance(
+    monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch,
+) -> None:
+    """Compliance-mode audit consumer is critical and halts on durability loss."""
+    spine = EventSpine()
+    audit = AuditLogger(compliance_mode=True)
+
+    def failing_record(event_type: str, run_id: str, **payload: Any) -> None:
+        raise AuditDurabilityError('disk failed')
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(audit, 'record', failing_record)
+    register_audit_consumer(spine, audit)
+
+    with pytest.raises(AuditDurabilityError, match='disk failed'):
+        spine.emit(RunEventType.RUN_STARTED, 'run-1', {'task': 'test'})
+
+
 def test_event_sequence_monotonicity() -> None:
     """Test that event sequence numbers are monotonic."""
     spine = EventSpine()

tests/test_docs_consistency.py

@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ def test_validate_docs_consistency_passes_when_inputs_match(tmp_path: Path) -> N
     )
 
     readme.write_text(
-        '(2 providers)\nexport A_API_KEY=\nexport B_API_KEY=\n', encoding='utf-8'
+        'owner-operator\n(2 providers)\nexport A_API_KEY=\nexport B_API_KEY=\n',
+        encoding='utf-8',
     )
     tier_block = render_tier_markdown()
     acceptance.write_text(
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ def test_validate_docs_consistency_passes_when_inputs_match(tmp_path: Path) -> N
     matrix.write_text('| Use Case | Covered |\n| yes |\n', encoding='utf-8')
     roadmap.write_text(
         '# Roadmap Status\n\n'
+        'owner-operator\n'
         '| H0 | Claim and risk hygiene | documentation-current-truth |\n'
         'doc-vs-HEAD guard\n',
         encoding='utf-8',
@@ -79,7 +81,9 @@ def test_validate_docs_consistency_detects_mismatch(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
         'def test_a():\n    assert True\n', encoding='utf-8'
     )
 
-    readme.write_text('(3 providers)\nexport A_API_KEY=\n', encoding='utf-8')
+    readme.write_text(
+        'owner-operator\n(3 providers)\nexport A_API_KEY=\n', encoding='utf-8'
+    )
     acceptance.write_text(
         '`2 passed`\n<!-- ACCEPTANCE_TIERS:START -->\nwrong\n<!-- ACCEPTANCE_TIERS:END -->',
         encoding='utf-8',
@@ -152,15 +156,81 @@ def test_validate_roadmap_status_passes_for_repo_roadmap() -> None:
 
 def test_current_roadmap_stays_owner_operator_harness_first() -> None:
     root = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+    readme = (root / 'README.md').read_text(encoding='utf-8')
+    index = (root / 'docs' / 'INDEX.md').read_text(encoding='utf-8')
     roadmap = (root / 'docs' / 'roadmap-status.md').read_text(encoding='utf-8')
 
+    errors = _VALIDATE_MODULE.validate_current_direction_claims(
+        readme_text=readme,
+        docs_index_text=index,
+        roadmap_text=roadmap,
+    )
+    assert errors == []
     assert 'owner-operator' in roadmap
     assert 'owner packaging and local distribution'.lower() in roadmap.lower()
     assert 'general-user trust onboarding' not in roadmap
     assert 'Packaging and adoption' not in roadmap
     assert 'external-facing release channels' not in roadmap
 
 
+def test_current_direction_guard_detects_old_adoption_framing() -> None:
+    errors = _VALIDATE_MODULE.validate_current_direction_claims(
+        readme_text=(
+            '# TeaAgent\n'
+            '> **Direction record:** owner-operator harness-first current direction, '
+            'aspirational adoption\n'
+        ),
+        docs_index_text=(
+            '# Index\n'
+            '## Start Here\n'
+            '| What can a daily user trust today? | x | y |\n'
+            '## Current Truth\n'
+            '| Current daily-driver behavior | x |\n'
+        ),
+        roadmap_text=(
+            '# Roadmap Status\n'
+            'owner-operator is the current validated persona; not current goals\n'
+            '## Purpose\n'
+            'owner-operator roadmap\n'
+            '## Roadmap Horizons\n'
+            '| H6 | Packaging and adoption | external-facing release channels |\n'
+            'general-user trust onboarding\n'
+        ),
+    )
+    assert any('aspirational adoption' in err for err in errors)
+    assert any('Packaging and adoption' in err for err in errors)
+    assert any('external-facing release channels' in err for err in errors)
+    assert any('general-user trust onboarding' in err for err in errors)
+
+
+def test_current_direction_guard_ignores_historical_evidence_mentions() -> None:
+    errors = _VALIDATE_MODULE.validate_current_direction_claims(
+        readme_text=(
+            '# TeaAgent\n'
+            '> **Direction record:** owner-operator harness-first current direction\n'
+        ),
+        docs_index_text=(
+            '# Index\n'
+            '## Start Here\n'
+            '| What can the owner-operator trust today? | x | y |\n'
+            '## Current Truth\n'
+            '| Current owner-operated daily behavior | x |\n'
+            '## Evidence And Review\n'
+            '| June 10 conversation experience refresh | '
+            'General-User Conversation Experience Refresh |\n'
+        ),
+        roadmap_text=(
+            '# Roadmap Status\n'
+            'owner-operator is the current validated persona; not current goals\n'
+            '## Purpose\n'
+            'Roadmap purpose.\n'
+            '## Roadmap Horizons\n'
+            '| H6 | Owner packaging and local distribution | owner-operated use |\n'
+        ),
+    )
+    assert errors == []
+
+
 def test_validate_roadmap_status_detects_missing_h0_truth_links() -> None:
     roadmap = (
         '# Roadmap Status\n\n'