acdl/.ciagent/GRILL.md

CIAgent Grill Report

Run: 2026-08-12 (mode: interactive, focus: all axes) — v1.23 Nova Deck Cleanup & Python PPTX

Overall Verdict: PROCEED-WITH-REVISIONS (confidence: 0.78)

The plan is fundamentally sound — the empirical checks (image format, Marp <div> passthrough, versioning, test-inversion completeness) all pass. But four binding revisions restructure the wave/phase plan and expand the "penetrate" purge scope. Two axes were escalated-but-resolved (the empirical verifications de-risked P2 and P3). The plan proceeds with the revisions below.

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Per-Axis Findings

Axis 1 — Scope / over-reach: PASS (conf 0.80)

Building a whole new render_pptx.py + markdown parser is significant for a "deck cleanup" milestone, but REQ-269 explicitly mandates it, the milestone is NFR docs/render/test-only (no runtime impact), and the dual-PPTX value (MARP image-of-slide + python structured/editable) is a real deliverable, not gold-plating. The G-003 split (P3a/P3b) mitigates the parser-complexity risk. The plan stays in scope; it does not reach into the deck's 4-beat narrative arc (out-of-scope section confirms).

Axis 2 — Hidden dependencies (P3/P4 "zero file overlap"): REVISE → G-002 (conf 0.85)

The "zero file overlap" claim is true for EDITS but false for VERIFICATION. P3's render_pptx.py parsing logic depends on the deck markdown structure that P4 is simultaneously trimming; P4's verify step runs render_slides.sh that P3 is mid-editing. Binding revision G-002: serialize P3→P4.

Axis 3 — Test inversion risk: PASS (conf 0.92)

The plan's test-update list (Finding 5 / P5 tasks) is complete and accurate. Empirically confirmed all affected tests:

• test_marp_deck_not_using_default_theme (line 66-74: invert — we now USE theme: default) ✓ plan mentions
• test_marp_deck_uses_sp_theme (line 55-64: rewrite to assert inline style: block) ✓ plan mentions
• test_theme_css_* trio (lines 275, 284, 295: retarget to inline style:) ✓
• test_html_embeds_theme (line 353: --sp-red → #D6002A) ✓ plan mentions
• test_source_md_* pair (lines 240, 266: delete — plain .md gone) ✓
• test_render_slides_script_renders_marp (line 92: still produces .pptx via marp-cli for the fallback PPTX) — ✓ plan handles
• No latent assertions missed. The plan's enumeration is thorough.

Axis 4 — Image-inlining correctness: PASS (conf 0.95)

Empirically verified the rendered HTML at docs/presentations/nova-autonomous-cloud-delivery.html uses plain <img src="assets/png/platform-pipeline.png" ...> and <img src="assets/png/telemetry-live-ops.png" ...> — standard <img> tags inside Marp's SVG <foreignObject> wrapper. Zero xlink:href occurrences. The inline_images.py regex (<img\s+src="([^"]+)") will match. The 2 data:image matches already in the HTML are Marp OSC onscreen-control SVG icons (CSS backgrounds, not slide images) — not a conflict. P0 risk cleared.

Axis 5 — python-pptx parser complexity: REVISE → G-003 (conf 0.80)

The parser must handle 10+ distinct markdown constructs (frontmatter, --- separators, H1/H2, bullets, bold leads, blockquotes, fenced code, images, markdown tables, <div class="benefit"> HTML blocks) plus edge cases (tables with **bold** R/A cells, nested bullets, class:tall image alt text) plus two python-pptx constraints (no CSS font fallback — single font.name; blank layout has no bullets — must inject <a:buChar> XML). Finding 3 confirmed the APIs exist but the parser is non-trivial. With P3 on the serial critical path (G-002), an overflow blocks everything. Binding revision G-003: split P3 into P3a (inline_images + render_slides.sh

• pyproject — low-risk mechanical) and P3b (render_pptx.py + parser + the attach_release_asset.py extension — high-risk).

Axis 6 — Benefit callout <div> in Marp: PASS (conf 0.95)

Empirically verified by rendering a minimal test deck through @marp-team/marp-cli@4.5.0 (the pinned version): <div class="benefit">text</div> passes through verbatim into the rendered <section>. Marpit's html: true option is on by default; no sanitization of styling divs. The .benefit class in the inline style: block will apply. P2's restyle approach is valid. P0 risk cleared.

Axis 7 — "penetrate" removal completeness: REVISE → G-001 (conf 0.85)

CRITICAL gap. The plan's verify step grep -ri penetrat docs/presentations/ misses docs/scope.md (line 16: "Nova never penetrates the PDLC") and docs/vision.md (line 18: "It does not penetrate upstream product or software development lifecycles") — the repo's two core strategic docs. The term also appears in every .ciagent/ file (PLAN, REQUIREMENTS, RESEARCH, CLARIFY, ROADMAP, PROJECT, PERSONAS, NORTH_STAR). The deck does not link out to these docs, but they are audience-reachable via the repo. Binding revision G-001: purge "penetrate" (and derivatives) from the entire repo — docs/ AND .ciagent/. P4's verify step becomes grep -ri penetrat docs/ .ciagent/ returns nothing. test_no_penetrate_term asserts the same. The deleted plain .md (P1) already removes its occurrence; docs/scope.md + docs/vision.md reworded in P4; all .ciagent/ files reworded across the relevant phases (the phase that owns each file's edit window).

Axis 8 — Wave 3 parallelization feasibility: REVISE → G-002 (conf 0.85)

Resolved by G-002 (serialize P3→P4). Wave 3 is no longer parallel. P3's render_slides.sh is stable before P4 runs its verify render; P3's parser is tested against the current (untrimmed) deck before P4 trims it.

Axis 9 — Phase count vs. value: REVISE → G-004 (conf 0.80)

G-003 split P3 (→8 phases); G-004 merges P5+P6 to compensate. P6 (final-review-ship) for an NFR docs-only milestone is largely ceremonial — the review/audit/ship work folds into P5's final commits. Binding revision G-004: merge P5+P6. Net phase count returns to 7.

Axis 10 — Versioning: PASS (conf 0.95)

git tag --list 'v1.22.*' returns nothing — no conflicts. The v1.21.x line (v1.21.0..v1.21.6) is the precedent; v1.23 tags v1.22.0..v1.22.6 per the revised phase plan (G-003 split shifts tag numbers; G-004 merge keeps the final at v1.22.6).

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Binding Decisions

ID	Decision	Confidence	Rationale
G-001	Purge "penetrate" (and derivatives) from the entire repo — docs/ AND .ciagent/, not just docs/presentations/. P4 verify: grep -ri penetrat docs/ .ciagent/ returns nothing. test_no_penetrate_term asserts the same. docs/scope.md:16 + docs/vision.md:18 reworded in P4; all .ciagent/ files reworded in the phase that owns each file's edit window.	0.85	The term appears in the repo's two core strategic docs (audience-reachable) and all internal metadata. REQ-272 says "removed from all presentation files"; the user confirmed a full-repo purge (politically loaded term). The plan's docs/presentations/-only grep is a gap.
G-002	Serialize P3→P4. Wave 3 is no longer parallel. P3 completes (stable render_slides.sh + tested parser against the current deck) before P4 trims the deck + purges "penetrate" (per G-001). C8's parallelization rationale is overruled.	0.85	"Zero file overlap" is true for edits but false for verification: P3's parser depends on the deck structure P4 is trimming; P4's verify render depends on P3's render_slides.sh being stable. The interaction risk is the failure mode.
G-003	Split P3 into P3a (inline_images.py + render_slides.sh inline-images step + pyproject.toml — low-risk mechanical) and P3b (render_pptx.py + the full markdown parser + render_slides.sh python-pptx step + attach_release_asset.py extension — high-risk). Both serial in Wave 3.	0.80	The parser handles 10+ markdown constructs + python-pptx XML constraints (font fallback, bullet injection); on the serial critical path (G-002) an overflow blocks everything. Splitting isolates the high-risk work.
G-004	Merge P5+P6. P5 absorbs the final-review/audit/ship work (multi-persona review, reconstruction audit, milestone merge, tag, release, branch cleanup, REQUIREMENTS/ROADMAP update) as its final commits. Tag v1.22.6 = milestone release.	0.80	For an NFR docs-only milestone, a dedicated review/ship phase is ceremonial overhead. P5 already asserts the final state via tests. The merge compensates for the G-003 split, returning to 7 phases.

Escalations

None. All axes resolved at confidence ≥ 0.78. Two axes (4 and 6) were escalation candidates (P0 risks if the empirical checks failed) but both were cleared by direct verification — the rendered HTML uses plain <img src="assets/..."> (not SVG xlink:href), and Marp 4.5.0 passes through <div class="benefit"> verbatim (empirically confirmed with a minimal test deck).

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Revised Wave/Phase Plan (post-revisions)

Wave 1 (P1):        consolidate-docs (edits -marp.md, deletes plain .md)
   ↓
Wave 2 (P2):        restore-clean-style (edits -marp.md frontmatter +
   ↓                benefit callouts; edits render_slides.sh; retires
                    nova-sp-theme.css from render)
   ↓
Wave 3 (P3a → P3b, serial):
   P3a: inline-images (inline_images.py + render_slides.sh step + pyproject)
    ↓
   P3b: python-pptx-generator (render_pptx.py + parser + render_slides.sh
        step + attach_release_asset.py extension)
   ↓
Wave 4 (P4):        trim-wordcount + purge "penetrate" (edits -marp.md +
   ↓                talking-points.md + docs/scope.md + docs/vision.md +
                    all .ciagent/ files per G-001)
   ↓
Wave 5 (P5+P6 merged): ci-tests-readme + final-review-ship (tests, CI,
                      README, multi-persona review, audit, ship —
                      tag v1.22.6 = milestone release)

Revised Tag Plan

• v1.22.0 (P0 — already tagged)
• v1.22.1 (P1)
• v1.22.2 (P2)
• v1.22.3 (P3a)
• v1.22.4 (P3b)
• v1.22.5 (P4)
• v1.22.6 (P5+P6 merged — final patch = milestone release)

P4 expanded scope (per G-001)

P4 now owns, in addition to the deck word-count trim:

• docs/scope.md:16 — reword "Nova never penetrates the PDLC"
• docs/vision.md:18 — reword "It does not penetrate upstream product or software development lifecycles"
• .ciagent/PLAN.md, REQUIREMENTS.md, RESEARCH.md, CLARIFY.md, ROADMAP.md, PROJECT.md, PERSONAS.md, NORTH_STAR.md — reword every "penetrate" occurrence (or the phase that owns each file's edit window does so; P4 is the natural owner since it owns the "penetrate" removal requirement REQ-272).

P5 expanded scope (per G-004)

P5 now owns, in addition to the test/CI/README work:

• Multi-persona code review (ciagent-review) of the milestone branch
• Audit (ciagent-audit) — reconstruction test + .ciagent discipline
• Milestone ship (ciagent-ship) — merge to milestone branch → main, tag v1.22.6, release with both PPTX attached, delete milestone branches
• Update REQUIREMENTS.md (mark v1.23 complete) + ROADMAP.md (mark v1.23 complete)
• Commit: docs(milestone): complete v1.23 — Nova Deck Cleanup & Python PPTX

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Evidence Index

• Image format: docs/presentations/nova-autonomous-cloud-delivery.html grep — 2× <img src="assets/png/...">, 0× xlink:href
• Marp <div> passthrough: minimal test deck rendered through @marp-team/marp-cli@4.5.0 → <div class="benefit"> survives verbatim
• Versioning: git tag --list 'v1.22.*' → empty (no conflicts)
• "penetrate" occurrences: grep -riI penetrat → docs/scope.md:16, docs/vision.md:18, docs/presentations/{-marp.md, .html, .md, -talking-points.md}, all .ciagent/*.md
• Test inversion targets: tests/test_slides_pipeline.py lines 55-64 (rewrite), 66-74 (invert), 240-270 (delete), 275-302 (retarget), 353-359 (assert #D6002A not --sp-red)
• Benefit callout count: 21 **Benefit:** in current deck → 21 <div class="benefit"> in P2