Fixes from the rest of the live session

- A near miss for abandon ("abort", "cancel", "drop it", ...) in an item's
  thread is asked about, and changes nothing.
- The driver is told only the operator stops or closes an item, so it
  doesn't claim to have done either.
- An issue assigned again after its item closed starts a new item that
  notes the one before (Gitea's timeline gives the assignment time);
  item_for_issue returns the latest item.
- Abandoning an issue Gitea won't close because of open dependencies says
  so, naming them.
- An agreed item isn't offered restate.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01PPQ14L3LikyefCMFBqEbKE

docs/Architecture.md

@@ -569,6 +569,9 @@ Work arrives as Gitea issues or conversation, and leaves as reviewed PRs.
   is. The agent acknowledges it ("queued myproject#14, 1 ahead"). Your issue is the
   item's record. Only issues filed or assigned by allowlisted operators count (L11).
 - **Unassigned issues are backlog,** never work, though the agent will discuss them.
+- **An issue assigned again after its item closed is a new item,** which notes the
+  one before it; an issue whose item is still open, or whose assignment predates
+  the close, stays with that item.
 - **Open Gitea dependencies make an issue blocked** (L1).
 - **Work that starts in conversation gets a record** once it is work on a project,
   not at its first message: the transcript already keeps the conversation. The

nisse-dev/src/nisse_dev/gitea.py

@@ -261,6 +261,31 @@ class GiteaClient:
                 who = (event.get("user") or {}).get("login")
         return who
 
+    def assigned_at(self, repo: str, index: int, assignee: str) -> str | None:
+        """When the issue was last assigned to ``assignee`` (ISO 8601), from
+        its timeline, oldest first and paged to the end; None if the
+        timeline doesn't say."""
+        when = None
+        for page in range(1, MAX_PR_PAGES + 1):
+            events = (
+                self._request(
+                    "GET",
+                    f"/repos/{repo}/issues/{index}/timeline",
+                    params={"limit": PR_PAGE_SIZE, "page": page},
+                )
+                or []
+            )
+            for event in events:
+                if (
+                    event.get("type") == "assignees"
+                    and not event.get("removed_assignee")
+                    and (event.get("assignee") or {}).get("login") == assignee
+                ):
+                    when = event.get("created_at")
+            if len(events) < PR_PAGE_SIZE:
+                break
+        return when
+
     def repository(self, repo: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """The repository as this account sees it, permissions included."""
         return dict(self._request("GET", f"/repos/{repo}"))

nisse-dev/src/nisse_dev/loop/agent.py

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import time
 import uuid
 from collections.abc import Callable, Iterable, Sequence
 from dataclasses import dataclass, replace
+from datetime import UTC, datetime
 
 from nisse_dev.cancel import Cancel
 from nisse_dev.canonical import (
@@ -87,6 +88,19 @@ _NEXT = re.compile(rf"(?:do|work on) {_ISSUE} (?:next|first|now)")
 _NAMED = re.compile(r"(go|approve|abandon|stop) (?:([a-z0-9][a-z0-9-]*))?#(\d+)")
 # At top level these need an item; without one they are ambiguous (L5).
 _NEEDS_ITEM = frozenset({"go", "approve", "abandon"})
+# Near-misses for abandon: asked about, never taken for it or for a reply.
+_NEAR_ABANDON = frozenset(
+    {
+        "abort",
+        "abort it",
+        "cancel",
+        "cancel it",
+        "drop it",
+        "quit",
+        "kill it",
+        "scrap it",
+    }
+)
 BUG_GRACE_S = 600.0
 GENERAL_IDLE_S = 86400.0
 PROGRESS_EVERY_S = 60.0  # progress in prose at a readable rate (L5, #42)
@@ -113,6 +127,9 @@ If the request is unclear, ask_human instead of guessing: a restatement asks
 no questions, so the operator can agree to it as it stands. At any point,
 asking is better than guessing.
 
+Only the operator stops or closes an item (their stop and abandon commands):
+never say you have stopped or closed anything yourself.
+
 Before each group of tool calls, say in a sentence what you're doing and why:
 the operator sees it as your progress.
 
@@ -504,7 +521,8 @@ class LoopAgent:
             self._oplog.emit("loop.intake_unavailable", cause=str(exc))
             return
         for issue in issues:
-            if item_for_issue(self._store, issue.number, project.name) is not None:
+            before = item_for_issue(self._store, issue.number, project.name)
+            if before is not None and not self._assigned_again(project, issue, before):
                 continue
             if _MARKER.search(issue.body or ""):
                 continue  # D1: a record of work started in conversation
@@ -521,7 +539,7 @@ class LoopAgent:
             except GiteaError as exc:
                 self._oplog.emit("loop.intake_unavailable", cause=str(exc))
                 continue  # taken on the next round
-            self._open(project, issue, tuple(blocked_by))
+            self._open(project, issue, tuple(blocked_by), follows=before)
 
     # -- PR review and merge (D4, D5) -------------------------------------------
 
@@ -689,8 +707,24 @@ class LoopAgent:
             return False
         return who in self._gitea_operators
 
+    def _assigned_again(self, project: Project, issue: Issue, before: WorkItem) -> bool:
+        """D1: an issue is taken once, and again only when it's assigned to
+        the agent anew after its last item closed (abandoned, say, then
+        given back): never on the same assignment twice."""
+        if before.status == "open" or not before.closed_at:
+            return False
+        try:
+            when = self._gitea.assigned_at(project.repo, issue.number, self._account)
+        except GiteaError:
+            return False
+        return bool(when) and _instant(when) > _instant(before.closed_at)
+
     def _open(
-        self, project: Project, issue: Issue, blocked_by: tuple[str, ...]
+        self,
+        project: Project,
+        issue: Issue,
+        blocked_by: tuple[str, ...],
+        follows: WorkItem | None = None,
     ) -> None:
         item_id = f"{project.name}-{issue.number}-{uuid.uuid4().hex[:6]}"
         cause = f"assigned {project.repo}#{issue.number}"
@@ -708,6 +742,7 @@ class LoopAgent:
             issue=issue.number,
             blocked_by=blocked_by,
             labels=labels,
+            follows=follows.id if follows else "",
         )
         self._threads[(project.name, issue.number)] = root
         self._store.open_work_item(
@@ -729,6 +764,12 @@ class LoopAgent:
                     if project.labels
                     else ""
                 )
+                + (
+                    f"; assigned again after its earlier item {follows.id} closed "
+                    f"({follows.outcome})"
+                    if follows
+                    else ""
+                )
             )
         )
         text = f"{issue.title}\n\n{issue.body}".strip()
@@ -830,6 +871,18 @@ class LoopAgent:
             elif not self._store.active_item():
                 self._transport.post("Nothing is running.", thread=msg.thread)
             return
+        if command in _NEAR_ABANDON:
+            # L5: a near-miss for a command is asked about, never read as a
+            # reply (the driver can't stop or close anything itself).
+            self._store.transcript(None, "operator").append(
+                UserMessage(text=text, source=f"transport:{msg.sender}")
+            )
+            self._transport.post(
+                f"Did you mean `abandon`? That closes {self._label(item)} and its "
+                "issue; say abandon to confirm. (`stop` ends a run in progress.)",
+                thread=loop_of(item).thread,
+            )
+            return
         if command in ("status", "details"):
             # About the item, not a reply to it: nothing changes, a
             # countdown runs on (L5). Recorded at the agent's level.
@@ -1666,7 +1719,9 @@ class LoopAgent:
             loop = replace(loop, prepared=True)
         save(self._store, item.id, RUNNING, loop, cause="driver run")
         # D1: a `discuss` item talks before it restates.
-        hold = "discuss" in loop.labels and not loop.talked and not loop.started
+        hold = (
+            "discuss" in loop.labels and not loop.talked
+        ) or loop.started  # agreed: a restatement is behind it (D1)
         if loop.question:
             hold = True  # nothing but answering (below)
         tools = [
@@ -2124,8 +2179,19 @@ class LoopAgent:
                 self._gitea.post_comment(project.repo, loop.issue, f"{outcome}: {note}")
                 self._gitea.close_issue(project.repo, loop.issue)
             except GiteaError as exc:
+                try:
+                    blockers = self._gitea.open_dependencies(project.repo, loop.issue)
+                except GiteaError:
+                    blockers = []
+                why = (
+                    f"Gitea won't close an issue while it depends on open ones "
+                    f"({', '.join(blockers)}): close it when they're done, or "
+                    "remove the dependency"
+                    if blockers
+                    else str(exc)
+                )
                 self._transport.post(
-                    f"closed here, but could not close #{loop.issue}: {exc}",
+                    f"closed here, but could not close #{loop.issue}: {why}",
                     thread=loop.thread,
                 )
         if outcome == "abandoned":
@@ -2133,3 +2199,9 @@ class LoopAgent:
 
     def _fact(self, item: WorkItem, text: str) -> None:
         self._store.transcript(item.id, "orchestrator").append(Fact(text=text))
+
+
+def _instant(stamp: str) -> datetime:
+    """An ISO 8601 time from Gitea or the state store, comparable either way."""
+    when = datetime.fromisoformat(stamp)
+    return when if when.tzinfo else when.replace(tzinfo=UTC)

nisse-dev/src/nisse_dev/loop/items.py

@@ -108,9 +108,12 @@ def item_for_thread(
 def item_for_issue(
     store: StateStore, issue: int, project: str | None = None
 ) -> WorkItem | None:
-    """Any item, open or closed, recorded by this issue (in ``project``,
+    """The latest item, open or closed, recorded by this issue (in
-    when given): intake never takes an issue twice (D1)."""
+    ``project``, when given): intake takes an issue once, and again only on a
-    for item in store.work_items():
+    fresh assignment after its item closed (D1)."""
-        if loop_of(item).issue == issue and project in (None, item.scope):
+    found = [
-            return item
+        item
-    return None
+        for item in store.work_items()
+        if loop_of(item).issue == issue and project in (None, item.scope)
+    ]
+    return found[-1] if found else None

nisse-dev/tests/test_gitea.py

@@ -229,3 +229,30 @@ def test_closing_comments_first_then_closes_issue_and_pr() -> None:
         ("POST", "/api/v1/repos/o/r/issues/20/comments", {"body": "abandoned by don"}),
         ("PATCH", "/api/v1/repos/o/r/pulls/20", {"state": "closed"}),
     ]
+
+
+def test_assigned_at_is_the_last_assignment_across_pages() -> None:
+    def assigned(login: str, at: str, removed: bool = False) -> dict:
+        return {
+            "type": "assignees",
+            "assignee": {"login": login},
+            "removed_assignee": removed,
+            "created_at": at,
+        }
+
+    filler = {"type": "comment", "created_at": "t0"}
+    pages = {
+        1: [assigned("dev-agent", "t1")] + [filler] * (PR_PAGE_SIZE - 1),
+        2: [
+            assigned("dev-agent", "t2", removed=True),
+            assigned("someone", "t3"),
+            assigned("dev-agent", "t4"),
+        ],
+    }
+
+    def handler(request: httpx.Request) -> httpx.Response:
+        assert request.url.path == "/api/v1/repos/o/r/issues/6/timeline"
+        return httpx.Response(200, json=pages[int(request.url.params["page"])])
+
+    assert client(handler).assigned_at("o/r", 6, "dev-agent") == "t4"
+    assert client(handler).assigned_at("o/r", 6, "nobody") is None

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop.py

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class FakeGitea:
         self.comments: list[tuple[int, str]] = []
         self.closed: list[int] = []
         self.deps: dict[int, list[int]] = {}
+        self.reassigned: dict[int, str] = {}  # issue -> when assigned again
 
     def create_issue(self, repo: str, title: str, body: str) -> int:
         n = max([i.number for i in self.issues] + [0]) + 1
@@ -67,6 +68,9 @@ class FakeGitea:
     def assigned_by(self, repo: str, index: int, assignee: str) -> str:
         return self.assigner
 
+    def assigned_at(self, repo: str, index: int, assignee: str) -> str | None:
+        return self.reassigned.get(index)
+
     def post_comment(self, repo: str, index: int, body: str) -> None:
         self.comments.append((index, body))
 

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop_live_fixes.py

@@ -1,14 +1,16 @@
 """What the first live session of the new loop found (2026-10-07), each as a
 test: a request ending on the assistant's side (refused by models without
 prefill: the driver's prose nudge, a helper's first request), `status` in an
-item's thread taken as a reply, and no way for the driver to answer a remark.
+item's thread taken as a reply, no way for the driver to answer a remark;
+later, near-miss commands, the driver claiming a stop, a reassigned issue
+ignored, an unexplained failed abandon and restating an agreed item.
 """
 
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 from model_contract import assert_renderable
-from test_loop import RESTATED, FakeGitea, Harness, ScriptedModel, call, issue
+from test_loop import DON, RESTATED, FakeGitea, Harness, ScriptedModel, call, issue
 from test_loop_help import ROLES, hand_back
 from test_loop_milestones import RESTATE, Forge, loop_agent, say
 from test_loop_milestones import item as the_item
@@ -152,3 +154,85 @@ def test_a_review_comment_can_be_answered_without_a_fix(
     assert (loop.wait, loop.pr) == (MERGE, pr)
     assert forge.posted[-1][0] == pr  # answered on the PR, where asked
     assert "It's a constant on purpose" in forge.posted[-1][1]
+
+
+# --- the session's later findings ----------------------------------------------
+
+
+def test_a_near_miss_for_abandon_is_asked_about(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    model = ScriptedModel(RESTATED)  # called once only: nothing reaches it
+    h = Harness(tmp_path, model, FakeGitea(issue()))
+    h.agent.intake()
+    h.say("abort")
+    assert h.posted()[-1].startswith("Did you mean `abandon`?")
+    assert (h.item().status, loop_of(h.item()).wait) == ("open", GO_AHEAD)
+    h.say("abandon")
+    assert h.item().status == "closed"
+
+
+def test_the_driver_is_told_it_cant_stop_or_close(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    seen: list[str] = []
+
+    class Spy(ScriptedModel):
+        def complete(self, events, tools, model, system=None):  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+            seen.append(system or "")
+            return super().complete(events, tools, model, system)
+
+    h = Harness(tmp_path, Spy(RESTATED), FakeGitea(issue()))
+    h.agent.intake()
+    assert "never say you have stopped or closed anything yourself" in seen[0]
+
+
+def test_an_issue_assigned_again_after_its_item_closed_is_taken_again(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    gitea = FakeGitea(issue())
+    h = Harness(tmp_path, ScriptedModel(RESTATED, RESTATED), gitea)
+    h.agent.intake()
+    h.say("abandon")
+    [old] = h.store.work_items()
+    gitea.closed.remove(14)  # the operator reopened it
+    h.agent.intake()
+    assert len(h.store.work_items()) == 1  # the same assignment: not again
+    gitea.reassigned[14] = "2999-01-01T00:00:00Z"  # assigned anew, later
+    h.agent.intake()
+    items = h.store.work_items()
+    assert len(items) == 2
+    new = next(i for i in items if i.id != old.id)
+    assert new.status == "open" and loop_of(new).follows == old.id
+
+
+def test_abandoning_a_blocked_issue_says_why_it_stays_open(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    from nisse_dev.gitea import GiteaError
+
+    class Strict(FakeGitea):
+        def close_issue(self, repo: str, index: int) -> None:
+            if self.open_dependencies(repo, index):
+                raise GiteaError("gitea PATCH returned 500: blocked")
+            super().close_issue(repo, index)
+
+    gitea = Strict(issue(14), issue(15, title="other"))
+    gitea.deps[14] = [15]
+    h = Harness(tmp_path, ScriptedModel(RESTATED), gitea)
+    h.agent._running = True  # hold the queue: only the abandon matters
+    h.agent.intake()
+    item = next(i for i in h.store.work_items() if loop_of(i).issue == 14)
+    h.transport.receive(DON, "abandon", thread=loop_of(item).thread)
+    said = " ".join(h.posted())
+    assert "won't close an issue while it depends on open ones" in said
+    assert "don/sandbox#15" in said
+
+
+def test_an_agreed_item_isnt_offered_restate(world: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    offered: list[set[str]] = []
+
+    class Spy(ScriptedModel):
+        def complete(self, events, tools, model, system=None):  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+            offered.append({t["function"]["name"] for t in tools})
+            return super().complete(events, tools, model, system)
+
+    model = Spy(RESTATE, [call("ask_human", question="anything else?")])
+    agent, transport = loop_agent(world, model)
+    agent.intake()
+    say(transport, world, "go")
+    assert "restate" in offered[0] and "restate" not in offered[1]

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop_milestones.py

@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ class Forge:
         self.issues = [Issue(14, "Add count_words", "count words", "don", ())]
         self.deps: dict[int, list[int]] = {}  # issue -> the issues it depends on
         self.assigned: list[int] = []  # issues the agent assigned to itself
+        self.reassigned: dict[int, str] = {}  # issue -> when assigned again
 
     # intake
     def assigned_issues(self, repo: str, assignee: str) -> list[Issue]:
@@ -84,6 +85,9 @@ class Forge:
     def assigned_by(self, repo: str, index: int, assignee: str) -> str:
         return "don"
 
+    def assigned_at(self, repo: str, index: int, assignee: str) -> str | None:
+        return self.reassigned.get(index)
+
     # PRs
     def _pr(self, n: int) -> PullRequest:
         p = self.prs[n]

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop_properties.py

@@ -400,7 +400,13 @@ class Walk:
         where = f"seed {self.seed}, steps {self.steps}"
         store = self.world["store"]
         items = self.items()
-        issues = [(i.scope, loop_of(i).issue) for i in items if loop_of(i).issue]
+        # Open items: an issue assigned again after its item closed gets a new
+        # one (D1), which loop.qnt doesn't model.
+        issues = [
+            (i.scope, loop_of(i).issue)
+            for i in items
+            if loop_of(i).issue and i.status == "open"
+        ]
         assert len(issues) == len(set(issues)), f"one_item_per_issue: {where}"
         for item in items:
             loop = loop_of(item)