Runs that go in circles end (M7.8)

Driver.run checks each turn with nisse_core.loop.circles and ends the run
as "circling" when the same calls get much the same back, one harness
correction is given again and again, or the model apologises, for
circle_repeats turns in a row (default 3). Near-identical calls (git add
a.py, b.py) and scattered apologies stay flags on the status page. A
fact in the transcript says why the run ended.

nisse-dev calls in a helper as for a stuck run, then asks the operator;
nisse-review counts a failed run and posts none of its drafts. Tuning:
tuning.driver / tuning.review circle_repeats (0 off) and circle_similar.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01J5Utyfzw7gF7UhjRDEtjTk

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop_help.py

@@ -249,6 +249,49 @@ def test_stuck_again_in_the_same_milestone_asks_the_operator(
     assert len(helper.calls) == 2  # one delegation: its two turns
 
 
+def test_a_driver_going_in_circles_gets_a_helper_too(world: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    # L2, M7.8: the same command, the same output, turn after turn.
+    helper = Spy(
+        [call("write_file", path="fixed.py", content="F = 1\n")],
+        [hand_back()],
+    )
+    model = ScriptedModel(
+        RESTATE,
+        [call("start_milestone", name="words")],
+        *[[call("run_command", command="true")] for _ in range(3)],
+        [call("finish_milestone", summary="fixed with help", final="yes")],
+    )
+    agent, transport = loop_agent(world, model, helpers=helpers(helper))
+    agent.intake()
+    say(transport, world, "go")
+
+    assert any("so a helper is taking over" in m.text for m in transport.outbound)
+    assert "near-identical replies in a row" in str(helper.calls)  # in the brief
+    assert loop_of(item(world)).helped_at == 1
+
+
+def test_circling_again_in_the_same_milestone_asks_the_operator(
+    world: dict[str, Any],
+) -> None:
+    helper = Spy(
+        [call("write_file", path="tried.py", content="T = 1\n")],
+        [hand_back()],
+    )
+    circling = [[call("run_command", command="true")] for _ in range(3)]
+    model = ScriptedModel(
+        RESTATE,
+        [call("start_milestone", name="words")],
+        *circling,
+        *circling,  # after the helper: round again
+    )
+    agent, transport = loop_agent(world, model, helpers=helpers(helper))
+    agent.intake()
+    say(transport, world, "go")
+    loop = loop_of(item(world))
+    assert loop.wait == ANSWER
+    assert "I stopped short: 3 near-identical replies in a row" in loop.note
+
+
 def test_ask_expert_answers_within_its_budget(world: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
     answer = {"answer": "use a dict", "confidence": "high", "caveats": ""}
     expert = Spy(