nisse-dev/src/nisse_dev/delegation.py

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ from nisse_dev.canonical import (
     AssistantText,
     DelegationCompleted,
     DelegationStarted,
+    Fact,
     PlanSubmitted,
     StoredEvent,
     ToolCall,
@@ -414,6 +415,15 @@ class Delegation:
                 # and its tree state is unknown. Treat it as a failure rather
                 # than inventing a handback on its behalf.
                 if any(isinstance(e, AssistantText) for e in produced):
+                    # Said something but did nothing: told so, as the
+                    # harness, so the next request ends on the user's side
+                    # (models refuse assistant prefill).
+                    transcript.as_actor("orchestrator").append(
+                        Fact(
+                            text="Your last reply was prose. Use your tools to "
+                            "do the work, then call hand_back."
+                        )
+                    )
                     continue
                 return DelegationResult(
                     "failed",

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

@@ -116,6 +116,10 @@ asking is better than guessing.
 Before each group of tool calls, say in a sentence what you're doing and why:
 the operator sees it as your progress.
 
+When the operator says something that needs an answer but no change (a
+remark, a status question), answer with reply: the item goes back to what it
+was waiting for. Every reply of yours is a tool call, never bare prose.
+
 The project's documents are in its repository: read ARCHITECTURE.md and any
 build plans under docs/plans/ before you restate.
 
@@ -587,6 +591,8 @@ class LoopAgent:
                 loop, position = replace(loop, pr=0, pr_url="", branch=""), READY
             elif new and item.position == WAITING:
                 position = READY
+                # A comment can be answered with a reply, back to this wait.
+                loop = replace(loop, back_to=loop.wait, back_note=loop.note)
             if position != item.position or loop != loop_of(item):
                 if position == READY:
                     loop = replace(loop, wait="", note="")
@@ -824,6 +830,19 @@ class LoopAgent:
             elif not self._store.active_item():
                 self._transport.post("Nothing is running.", thread=msg.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.
+            self._store.transcript(None, "operator").append(
+                UserMessage(text=text, source=f"transport:{msg.sender}")
+            )
+            said = (
+                self._details(item)
+                if command == "details"
+                else self._status_line(item, [i.id for i in self._queue()])
+            )
+            self._transport.post(said, thread=loop_of(item).thread)
+            return
         self._store.transcript(item.id, "operator").append(
             UserMessage(text=text, source=f"transport:{msg.sender}")
         )
@@ -844,8 +863,6 @@ class LoopAgent:
             self._close(item, loop, "abandoned", f"abandoned by {msg.sender}")
         elif command == "done" and loop.new_project:
             self._provisioned(item, loop)
-        elif command == "details":
-            self._transport.post(self._details(item), thread=loop.thread)
         elif (
             item.position == WAITING
             and item.scope != GENERAL
@@ -903,12 +920,13 @@ class LoopAgent:
             )
             self._go(item, loop, f"{msg.sender} (in plain language)")
         elif item.position == WAITING:
-            # An answer, or changes to a restatement: the driver reads it.
+            # An answer, changes to a restatement, or a remark: the driver
+            # reads it, and may reply and go back to this wait (L5).
             save(
                 self._store,
                 item.id,
                 READY,
-                replace(loop, wait="", note=""),
+                replace(loop, wait="", note="", back_to=loop.wait, back_note=loop.note),
                 cause="the operator answered",
             )
         self._schedule()
@@ -1272,28 +1290,28 @@ class LoopAgent:
                 f"{self._repos()}."
             )
         queue = [i.id for i in self._queue()]
-        lines = []
-        for item in items:
-            loop = loop_of(item)
-            what = item.position
-            if item.position == WAITING and loop.wait == CHAT:
-                what = "talking; your turn"
-            elif item.position == WAITING:
-                what = f"waiting for {loop.wait} ({loop.note or f'rev-{loop.rev}'})"
-                if loop.grace_until:
-                    left = max(0, int(loop.grace_until - self._clock()) // 60)
-                    what += f", going ahead in {left} min unless you reply"
-            elif item.position == BLOCKED:
-                what = f"blocked by {', '.join(loop.blocked_by)}"
-            elif item.position == READY:
-                what = f"ready, {queue.index(item.id) + 1} of {len(queue)} in line"
-            name = (
-                f'conversation "{item.title}"'
-                if item.scope == GENERAL
-                else f"{self._label(item)} {item.title}"
-            )
-            lines.append(f"{name}: {what}")
-        return "\n".join(lines)
+        return "\n".join(self._status_line(item, queue) for item in items)
+
+    def _status_line(self, item: WorkItem, queue: list[str]) -> str:
+        loop = loop_of(item)
+        what = item.position
+        if item.position == WAITING and loop.wait == CHAT:
+            what = "talking; your turn"
+        elif item.position == WAITING:
+            what = f"waiting for {loop.wait} ({loop.note or f'rev-{loop.rev}'})"
+            if loop.grace_until:
+                left = max(0, int(loop.grace_until - self._clock()) // 60)
+                what += f", going ahead in {left} min unless you reply"
+        elif item.position == BLOCKED:
+            what = f"blocked by {', '.join(loop.blocked_by)}"
+        elif item.position == READY:
+            what = f"ready, {queue.index(item.id) + 1} of {len(queue)} in line"
+        name = (
+            f'conversation "{item.title}"'
+            if item.scope == GENERAL
+            else f"{self._label(item)} {item.title}"
+        )
+        return f"{name}: {what}"
 
     # -- running (L1, L2) ------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -1663,12 +1681,15 @@ class LoopAgent:
                     CLOSE_ITEM,
                     *([WAIT_FOR_REVIEW] if loop.pr else []),
                     *([DELEGATE, ASK_EXPERT] if self._helpers else []),
+                    *([REPLY] if loop.back_to else []),
                     *EXECUTOR_TOOLS,
                 ]
             ),
         ]
         if loop.question:
             tools = [REPLY, *_LOOK]
+        elif loop.back_to and not loop.started:
+            tools = [*tools, REPLY]  # before the go-ahead, a remark answered
         roles = self._roles_of(item)
         workspace = project.workspace
         system = SYSTEM.format(
@@ -1771,6 +1792,13 @@ class LoopAgent:
                 replace(loop, rev=rev, wait=GO_AHEAD, note="", grace_until=grace),
                 None,
             )
+        elif outcome.kind == "wait" and outcome.tool == "reply" and loop.back_to:
+            # A project item's reply: answered where asked (the thread or the
+            # PR), then back to the very wait the message interrupted (L5).
+            self._answer_where_asked(item, loop, str(args.get("text", "")).strip())
+            self._wait(
+                item, replace(loop, wait=loop.back_to, note=loop.back_note), None
+            )
         elif outcome.kind == "wait" and outcome.tool == "reply":
             text = str(args.get("text", "")).strip()
             self._transport.post(text, thread=loop.thread)
@@ -2068,6 +2096,8 @@ class LoopAgent:
     def _wait(self, item: WorkItem, loop: Loop, say: str | None) -> None:
         if say:
             self._transport.post(say, thread=loop.thread)
+        # Waiting again: whatever woke the item is settled.
+        loop = replace(loop, question=False, back_to="", back_note="")
         save(self._store, item.id, WAITING, loop, cause=f"waiting for {loop.wait}")
 
     def _close(self, item: WorkItem, loop: Loop, outcome: str, note: str) -> None:

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

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from dataclasses import dataclass
 from typing import Any, Literal
 
 from nisse_dev.cancel import Cancel, skip_calls
-from nisse_dev.canonical import AssistantText, ToolCall, ToolResult
+from nisse_dev.canonical import AssistantText, Fact, ToolCall, ToolResult
 from nisse_dev.llm import LLMClient, LLMError
 from nisse_dev.loop.tools import WAITING, names
 from nisse_dev.state import Transcript
@@ -100,7 +100,10 @@ class Driver:
                 if nudged:
                     return RunOutcome("failed", note="kept replying in prose")
                 nudged = True
-                system = f"{system}\n\n{_PROSE_NUDGE}"
+                # In the conversation, as the harness: a request must end on
+                # the user's side (models refuse assistant prefill), and the
+                # nudge is then in the log as what it was.
+                transcript.as_actor("orchestrator").append(Fact(text=_PROSE_NUDGE))
                 continue
             for index, call in enumerate(calls):
                 if self._cancel.requested:

nisse-dev/src/nisse_dev/views.py

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from dataclasses import replace
 from nisse_dev.canonical import (
     AssistantText,
     DelegationCompleted,
+    DelegationStarted,
     Fact,
     GateOpened,
     PlanSubmitted,
@@ -105,6 +106,13 @@ def project(events: list[StoredEvent], viewer: str) -> list[StoredEvent]:
             if viewer == "helper":
                 out.append(_said(stored, "approved plan", event.plan))
             continue
+        if isinstance(event, DelegationStarted):
+            # The harness handing a task over: to the helper given it, a
+            # message from the harness, never its own turn (a request must
+            # end on the user's side; models refuse assistant prefill).
+            if actor == viewer:
+                out.append(_said(stored, "orchestrator", f"your task: {event.brief}"))
+            continue
         if actor == viewer:
             out.append(stored)
         elif actor == "operator" and isinstance(event, UserMessage):

nisse-dev/tests/model_contract.py

@@ -20,6 +20,13 @@ def assert_renderable(events: list[Any]) -> None:
 
 
 def _anthropic(messages: list[dict[str, Any]]) -> None:
+    # A request ends on the user's side: current models refuse assistant
+    # prefill ("The conversation must end with a user message"), found live
+    # on 2026-10-07 when the driver's prose nudge left its own reply last.
+    assert not messages or messages[-1]["role"] == "user", (
+        f"anthropic messages.{len(messages) - 1}: the conversation ends with an "
+        "assistant message (prefill), which the API refuses"
+    )
     for index, message in enumerate(messages):
         if message["role"] != "assistant":
             continue

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop_live_fixes.py

@@ -0,0 +1,154 @@
+"""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.
+"""
+
+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_help import ROLES, hand_back
+from test_loop_milestones import RESTATE, Forge, loop_agent, say
+from test_loop_milestones import item as the_item
+from test_loop_milestones import world as world  # noqa: PLC0414 -- the fixture
+
+from nisse_dev.canonical import AssistantText, Fact
+from nisse_dev.delegation import Caps
+from nisse_dev.gitea import Comment
+from nisse_dev.loop.help import Helpers
+from nisse_dev.loop.items import GO_AHEAD, MERGE, WAITING, loop_of
+
+
+class Clock:
+    def __init__(self) -> None:
+        self.now = 1000.0
+
+    def __call__(self) -> float:
+        return self.now
+
+
+def test_the_prose_nudge_keeps_requests_ending_on_the_user_side(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    # ScriptedModel checks every request as the API would, now including
+    # "the conversation must end with a user message".
+    h = Harness(
+        tmp_path,
+        ScriptedModel([AssistantText(text="Let me think.", model="m")], RESTATED),
+        FakeGitea(issue()),
+    )
+    h.agent.intake()
+    assert loop_of(h.item()).wait == GO_AHEAD  # the nudge worked
+    facts = [
+        e.event.text
+        for e in h.store.transcript(h.item().id, "orchestrator").read()
+        if isinstance(e.event, Fact)
+    ]
+    assert any("Your last reply was prose" in f for f in facts)
+
+
+class ContractHelper:
+    """A helper that checks its requests as the API would."""
+
+    def __init__(self, *turns: list[Any]) -> None:
+        self.turns = list(turns)
+
+    def complete(self, events, tools, model, system=None) -> list[Any]:
+        assert_renderable(events)
+        return self.turns.pop(0)
+
+
+def test_a_helpers_requests_end_on_the_user_side(world: dict[str, Any]) -> None:
+    helper = ContractHelper(
+        [AssistantText(text="Looking around first.", model="h")],  # prose
+        [call("write_file", path="helped.py", content="H = 1\n")],
+        [hand_back()],
+    )
+    model = ScriptedModel(
+        RESTATE,
+        [
+            call("start_milestone", name="words"),
+            call("delegate", task="write helped.py"),
+            call("finish_milestone", summary="with help", final="yes"),
+        ],
+    )
+    helpers = Helpers(
+        client=helper,  # type: ignore[arg-type]
+        roles=ROLES,
+        client_for=lambda model: helper,  # type: ignore[arg-type,return-value]
+        caps=Caps(turns=5),
+    )
+    agent, transport = loop_agent(world, model, helpers=helpers)
+    agent.intake()
+    say(transport, world, "go")
+    forge: Forge = world["forge"]
+    [pr] = forge.prs
+    assert forge.files(pr) == ["helped.py"]
+
+
+def test_status_in_a_thread_is_not_a_reply(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    clock = Clock()
+    model = ScriptedModel(RESTATED)  # called once only: status runs nothing
+    h = Harness(
+        tmp_path,
+        model,
+        FakeGitea(issue(labels=("bug",))),
+        clock=clock,
+        bug_grace_s=600,
+    )
+    h.agent.intake()
+    grace = loop_of(h.item()).grace_until
+    h.say("status")
+    assert h.posted()[-1].startswith("#14 Add count_words: waiting for go-ahead")
+    loop = loop_of(h.item())
+    assert (h.item().position, loop.wait, loop.grace_until) == (
+        WAITING,
+        GO_AHEAD,
+        grace,
+    )
+    h.say("details")
+    assert loop_of(h.item()).grace_until == grace
+
+
+def test_a_remark_gets_a_reply_and_the_restatement_stays_up(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    h = Harness(
+        tmp_path,
+        ScriptedModel(
+            RESTATED,
+            [call("reply", text="Noted: I'll keep it to text.py.")],
+        ),
+        FakeGitea(issue()),
+    )
+    h.agent.intake()
+    h.say("just a thought: keep it small")
+    loop = loop_of(h.item())
+    assert (loop.wait, loop.rev) == (GO_AHEAD, 1)
+    assert h.posted()[-1] == "Noted: I'll keep it to text.py."
+
+
+def test_a_review_comment_can_be_answered_without_a_fix(
+    world: dict[str, Any],
+) -> None:
+    forge: Forge = world["forge"]
+    model = ScriptedModel(
+        RESTATE,
+        [
+            call("start_milestone", name="words"),
+            call("write_file", path="w.py", content="W = 1\n"),
+            call("finish_milestone", summary="words", final="yes"),
+        ],
+        [call("reply", text="It's a constant on purpose, for the test.")],
+    )
+    agent, transport = loop_agent(world, model)
+    agent.intake()
+    say(transport, world, "go")
+    [pr] = forge.prs
+    forge.comments[pr] = [Comment(7, "don", "why a constant", "t")]
+    agent.watch()
+    agent._schedule()
+    loop = loop_of(the_item(world))
+    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]

nisse-dev/tests/test_loop_properties.py

@@ -83,8 +83,15 @@ class PolicyModel:
             return [call("ask_human", question=f"question {self.n}?")]
         if roll < 0.12:
             return [ToolCall(call_id=f"p{self.n}", tool="nonsense", arguments={})]
-        if "reply" in offered and "propose_work" not in offered:
+        if "reply" in offered and not offered & {
+            "propose_work",
+            "restate",
+            "ask_human",
+            "start_milestone",
+        }:
             return [call("reply", text=f"because {self.n}")]  # a question run
+        if "reply" in offered and "propose_work" not in offered and roll < 0.2:
+            return [call("reply", text=f"noted {self.n}")]  # a remark answered
         if "reply" in offered:  # a conversation: talk, or propose work
             if self.rng.random() < 0.1:
                 return [
@@ -258,6 +265,7 @@ class Walk:
         if item and loop:
             weights.update({"go": 3, "answer": 2, "abandon": 1, "go-stale": 1})
             weights.update({"plain-yes": 2, "wait": 2, "question": 2})
+            weights.update({"status-here": 1})
             if loop.new_project:
                 weights.update({"done": 2})
             if item.scope != "general":  # conversations aren't named by number
@@ -273,6 +281,18 @@ class Walk:
         elif action == "done" and loop:
             # The operator says a new project is ready; no entry was added.
             self.transport.receive(DON, "done", thread=loop.thread)
+        elif action == "status-here" and loop:
+            # L5: a command about the item, not a reply: nothing changes,
+            # not even a countdown.
+            before = (item.position, loop.wait, loop.rev, loop.grace_until)
+            self.transport.receive(DON, "status", thread=loop.thread)
+            after_item = self.world["store"].work_item(item.id)
+            after = loop_of(after_item)
+            now = (after_item.position, after.wait, after.rev, after.grace_until)
+            assert now == before, (
+                f"status_changes_nothing: {before} -> {now}: "
+                f"seed {self.seed}, steps {self.steps}"
+            )
         elif action == "question" and loop:
             # L5: a question never changes the item it's asked about.
             before = (item.position, loop.wait, loop.rev, loop.pr, loop.branch)

scripts/bringup-repo.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# The bring-up's test repository (Development Plan, live runs):
+# nisse-testing-operator/nisse-bringup, made as the end-to-end tests make
+# theirs (tests/integration/e2e_support.py, make_repo), but kept between runs.
+# Seeded with the test package, the bring-up agent's account a collaborator,
+# main protected, and a deploy key of its own at $E2E/ssh/nisse-bringup.key.
+#
+#   scripts/bringup-repo.sh create    make it
+#   scripts/bringup-repo.sh reset     delete it and make it again
+#   scripts/bringup-repo.sh delete    delete it
+#
+# Needs NISSE_OPERATOR_TOKEN (.env here) and the bring-up agent's token
+# (NISSE_GITEA_TOKEN in $E2E/.env), which names the agent's account.
+set -euo pipefail
+cd "$(dirname "$0")/.."
+E2E=${NISSE_E2E:-/root/nisse-e2e}
+case "${1:-}" in create|reset|delete) ;; *) sed -n '2,15p' "$0" | sed 's/^# \{0,1\}//'; exit 2 ;; esac
+set -a; [ -f .env ] && . ./.env; set +a
+exec uv run python - "$1" "$E2E" <<'PY'
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+sys.path.insert(0, "tests/integration")
+from e2e_support import OWNER, delete_repo, make_repo, operator_gitea  # noqa: E402
+
+from nisse_dev.envfile import load_env_file  # noqa: E402
+from nisse_dev.gitea import GiteaClient  # noqa: E402
+
+action, e2e = sys.argv[1], Path(sys.argv[2])
+url = "https://gitea.dongar.net"
+operator = operator_gitea(url)
+name = "nisse-bringup"
+if action in ("reset", "delete"):
+    delete_repo(operator, f"{OWNER}/{name}")
+    print(f"deleted {OWNER}/{name}")
+if action in ("create", "reset"):
+    agent_env: dict[str, str] = {}
+    load_env_file(e2e / ".env", agent_env)
+    agent = GiteaClient(url, agent_env["NISSE_GITEA_TOKEN"]).whoami()
+    repo = make_repo(operator, name, e2e / "ssh", agent=agent)
+    print(f"made {repo.name}: {agent} a collaborator; push key {repo.push_key}")
+PY

tests/integration/e2e_support.py

@@ -61,16 +61,14 @@ class FreshRepo:
     push_key: Path  # this repository's deploy key, private half
 
 
-@contextlib.contextmanager
-def fresh_repo(
-    operator: GiteaClient, run: str, keys: Path, *, agent: str, seed: bool = True
-) -> Iterator[FreshRepo]:
-    """A repository of its own for one test run, as the operator would make a
-    project's (D4, D8): seeded with a small Python package, the ``agent``
-    account a collaborator with write access, the default branch protected (pushes only by the
-    owner, an approval to merge), and a deploy key of its own, written under
-    ``keys``. Deleted afterwards, unless NISSE_E2E_KEEP_REPOS is set."""
-    name = f"nisse-e2e-{run}"
+def make_repo(
+    operator: GiteaClient, name: str, keys: Path, *, agent: str, seed: bool = True
+) -> FreshRepo:
+    """A repository as the operator would make a project's (D4, D8): seeded
+    with a small Python package (or only a README), the ``agent`` account a
+    collaborator with write access, the default branch protected (pushes only
+    by the owner, an approval to merge), and a deploy key of its own, written
+    under ``keys``. A failure part-way deletes what was made."""
     full = f"{OWNER}/{name}"
     operator._request(
         "POST",
@@ -147,8 +145,35 @@ def fresh_repo(
                 "required_approvals": 1,
             },
         )
-        yield FreshRepo(full, key)
+        # The labels the agent reads (D1), as a project would have them.
+        for label, color in (
+            ("bug", "#ee0701"),
+            ("discuss", "#0e8a16"),
+            ("design", "#5319e7"),
+        ):
+            operator._request(
+                "POST", f"/repos/{full}/labels", json={"name": label, "color": color}
+            )
+    except BaseException:
+        delete_repo(operator, full)
+        raise
+    return FreshRepo(full, key)
+
+
+def delete_repo(operator: GiteaClient, full: str) -> None:
+    with contextlib.suppress(GiteaError):
+        operator._request("DELETE", f"/repos/{full}")
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def fresh_repo(
+    operator: GiteaClient, run: str, keys: Path, *, agent: str, seed: bool = True
+) -> Iterator[FreshRepo]:
+    """A repository of its own for one test run (make_repo), deleted
+    afterwards unless NISSE_E2E_KEEP_REPOS is set."""
+    repo = make_repo(operator, f"nisse-e2e-{run}", keys, agent=agent, seed=seed)
+    try:
+        yield repo
     finally:
         if not os.environ.get("NISSE_E2E_KEEP_REPOS"):
-            with contextlib.suppress(GiteaError):
-                operator._request("DELETE", f"/repos/{full}")
+            delete_repo(operator, repo.name)