refactor(content): move orchestration markers off quick_context to typed jsonb

alembic/versions/041_structured_content_columns.py

@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ _LINE_MARKERS: dict[str, tuple[str, bool]] = {
     "original_developer:": ("original_developer", False),
     "documenter:": ("documenter", False),
     "required_cells:": ("required_cells", True),
+    # pr_author was a write-only marker (no reader); park legacy values out of
+    # the human quick_context rather than leave them as panel soup.
+    "pr_author:": ("pr_author", False),
 }
 # Whitespace-token ``key=value`` markers (may be space-appended onto a line).
 _TOKEN_MARKERS: dict[str, str] = {

roboco/api/routes/tasks.py

@@ -1361,7 +1361,7 @@ async def pass_qa(
 
     # QA cannot review their own tasks (prevent self-review)
     # Check against original developer stored in quick_context, not current assigned_to
-    original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+    original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
 
     if original_dev and str(agent.agent_id) == original_dev:
         audit = get_audit_service()
@@ -1442,7 +1442,7 @@ async def fail_qa(
 
     # QA cannot review their own tasks (prevent self-review)
     # Check against original developer stored in quick_context, not current assigned_to
-    original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+    original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
 
     if original_dev and str(agent.agent_id) == original_dev:
         raise HTTPException(

roboco/foundation/policy/content/markers.py

@@ -33,20 +33,24 @@ DISMISSED = "dismissed"
 
 
 def get_marker(task: HasMarkers, key: str, default: Any = None) -> Any:
-    return (task.orchestration_markers or {}).get(key, default)
+    om = getattr(task, "orchestration_markers", None)
+    if not isinstance(om, dict):
+        return default
+    return om.get(key, default)
 
 
 def set_marker(task: HasMarkers, key: str, value: Any) -> None:
-    markers = dict(task.orchestration_markers or {})
+    om = getattr(task, "orchestration_markers", None)
+    markers = dict(om) if isinstance(om, dict) else {}
     markers[key] = value
     task.orchestration_markers = markers
 
 
 def clear_marker(task: HasMarkers, key: str) -> None:
-    current = task.orchestration_markers or {}
+    om = getattr(task, "orchestration_markers", None)
-    if key not in current:
+    if not isinstance(om, dict) or key not in om:
         return
-    markers = dict(current)
+    markers = dict(om)
     del markers[key]
     task.orchestration_markers = markers or None
 

roboco/runtime/orchestrator.py

@@ -8157,8 +8157,6 @@ Never `commit`, never write code, never run `git`. PMs coordinate.
             - original_developer if pr_created=False (tracked in
               quick_context as "original_developer:<uuid>")
         """
-        from roboco.services.task import extract_original_developer
-
         # Fetch both `awaiting_documentation` and `claimed` because the
         # doc's claim transitions status from awaiting_documentation →
         # claimed. Without including `claimed` we'd miss tasks where doc
@@ -8170,7 +8168,7 @@ Never `commit`, never write code, never run `git`. PMs coordinate.
         for task in tasks:
             if self._is_task_handled_this_tick(task.get("id")):
                 continue
-            await self._doc_dispatch_one(client, task, extract_original_developer)
+            await self._doc_dispatch_one(client, task)
 
     async def _auto_assign_doc(
         self, client: httpx.AsyncClient, task: dict[str, Any], team: str
@@ -8201,15 +8199,13 @@ Never `commit`, never write code, never run `git`. PMs coordinate.
         self,
         client: httpx.AsyncClient,
         task: dict[str, Any],
-        extract_original_developer: Any,
     ) -> None:
         """Process a single task for `_dispatch_doc_work`."""
         team = task.get("team")
         if team not in ["backend", "frontend", "ux_ui"]:
             return
 
-        quick_context = task.get("quick_context") or ""
+        dev_uuid = (task.get("orchestration_markers") or {}).get("original_developer")
-        dev_uuid = extract_original_developer(quick_context)
         status = task.get("status")
 
         # Only consider `claimed` tasks actually in the doc/PR parallel

roboco/services/gateway/choreographer/_impl.py

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import structlog
 
 from roboco.exceptions import MergeConflictError
 from roboco.foundation.policy import lifecycle as spec_module
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.services.gateway.choreographer._verb_runner import VerbRunner
 from roboco.services.gateway.claim_guards import (
     already_active_guard,
@@ -185,14 +186,7 @@ def _extract_original_developer(task: Any) -> str | None:
     spec's self-review precondition (a documenter who is also the
     original developer cannot self-doc).
     """
-    qc = getattr(task, "quick_context", None) or ""
+    return markers.get_original_developer(task)
-    marker = "original_developer:"
-    if marker not in qc:
-        return None
-    tail = qc.split(marker, 1)[1].strip()
-    if not tail:
-        return None
-    return tail.split()[0] or None
 
 
 @dataclass(frozen=True)

roboco/services/gateway/choreographer/doc.py

@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 from roboco.config import settings
 from roboco.foundation.policy import lifecycle as spec_module
 from roboco.foundation.policy import tracing as _tr
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.models.task import DocRef
 from roboco.services.gateway.envelope import Envelope
 from roboco.services.gateway.evidence_builder import build_evidence_for_task
@@ -86,14 +87,7 @@ def _extract_original_developer(task: Any) -> str | None:
     the spec's self-review block reads ``ctx.original_developer_slug``
     and the mixin builds the Context.
     """
-    qc = getattr(task, "quick_context", None) or ""
+    return markers.get_original_developer(task)
-    marker = "original_developer:"
-    if marker not in qc:
-        return None
-    tail = qc.split(marker, 1)[1].strip()
-    if not tail:
-        return None
-    return tail.split()[0] or None
 
 
 class DocMixin(_Base):

roboco/services/gateway/choreographer/qa.py

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 from roboco.config import settings
 from roboco.foundation.policy import lifecycle as spec_module
 from roboco.foundation.policy import tracing as _tr
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.services.gateway.envelope import Envelope
 from roboco.services.gateway.evidence_builder import build_evidence_for_task
 
@@ -78,14 +79,7 @@ def _extract_original_developer(task: Any) -> str | None:
     the spec's self-review block reads ``ctx.original_developer_slug``
     and the mixins build the Context.
     """
-    qc = getattr(task, "quick_context", None) or ""
+    return markers.get_original_developer(task)
-    marker = "original_developer:"
-    if marker not in qc:
-        return None
-    tail = qc.split(marker, 1)[1].strip()
-    if not tail:
-        return None
-    return tail.split()[0] or None
 
 
 class QAMixin(_Base):

roboco/services/self_heal_engine.py

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, cast
 
 from roboco.config import settings
 from roboco.foundation import identity as _foundation
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.models.base import Complexity, TaskNature, TaskStatus, TaskType, Team
 from roboco.services.base import BaseService
 from roboco.services.notification import NotificationService
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ class SelfHealEngine(BaseService):
         open_tasks = await task_svc.list_open_self_heal_tasks()
         open_fps: set[str] = set()
         for existing in open_tasks:
-            fp = extract_self_heal_fingerprint(existing.quick_context)
+            fp = extract_self_heal_fingerprint(existing)
             if fp:
                 open_fps.add(fp)
         open_count = len(open_tasks)
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ class SelfHealEngine(BaseService):
             )
             # Carry the fingerprint so a later cycle sees this regression already
             # has an open fix task (parsed by extract_self_heal_fingerprint).
-            task.quick_context = f"self_heal_fp={obs.fingerprint}"
+            markers.set_self_heal_fingerprint(task, obs.fingerprint)
             await self.session.flush()
             open_fps.add(obs.fingerprint)
             open_count += 1

roboco/services/task.py

@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ from roboco.enforcement import (
     validate_task_transition,
 )
 from roboco.events import Event, EventType, get_event_bus
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content.validators import ContentValidationError
 from roboco.models.base import (
     AgentRole,
     AgentStatus,
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ from roboco.services.base import (
     UnauthorizedError,
     ValidationError,
 )
+from roboco.services.content_notes import apply_structured_note
 from roboco.utils.converters import require_uuid, to_python_uuid
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -301,68 +304,41 @@ def _get_valid_claim_statuses(
     return statuses
 
 
-def extract_original_developer(quick_context: str | None) -> str | None:
+def extract_original_developer(task: Any) -> str | None:
+    """The original-developer UUID from a task's orchestration markers.
+
+    Stored as the ``original_developer`` marker — migration 041 moved it out of
+    the human ``quick_context`` blob into ``orchestration_markers``. Returns the
+    value only when it is a well-formed UUID; anything else reads as absent.
     """
-    Safely extract original developer ID from quick_context.
+    dev_id = markers.get_original_developer(task)
-
+    if not dev_id:
-    The quick_context stores original developer as the "original_developer:
-    {uuid}" entry on its own line. Other entries (doc_notes, documenter,
-    etc.) may be appended on subsequent lines, so scan line-by-line rather
-    than assuming the field is the first and only token.
-
-    Args:
-        quick_context: The task's quick_context field value
-
-    Returns:
-        UUID string of original developer, or None if not found/invalid
-    """
-    if not quick_context:
-        return None
-
-    prefix = "original_developer:"
-    for raw in quick_context.splitlines():
-        line = raw.strip()
-        if not line.startswith(prefix):
-            continue
-        dev_id = line[len(prefix) :].strip()
-        if len(dev_id) == _UUID_LENGTH and dev_id.count("-") == _UUID_HYPHEN_COUNT:
-            return dev_id
         return None
+    if len(dev_id) == _UUID_LENGTH and dev_id.count("-") == _UUID_HYPHEN_COUNT:
+        return dev_id
     return None
 
 
-_REQUIRED_CELLS_PREFIX = "required_cells:"
-
-
 def _normalize_cell(value: object) -> str:
     """Normalize a team/cell token for comparison (e.g. backend, frontend, ux_ui)."""
     raw = str(getattr(value, "value", value)).strip().lower()
     return raw.replace("/", "_").replace("-", "_").replace(" ", "")
 
 
-def extract_required_cells(quick_context: str | None) -> list[str]:
+def extract_required_cells(task: Any) -> list[str]:
-    """Cells the brief explicitly named, from a ``required_cells:`` marker line.
+    """Cells the brief explicitly named, from the ``required_cells`` marker.
 
     The Main PM must create a subtask for each named cell (it may not silently
-    collapse one into a neighbour — see commit 60de3499). The marker is a single
+    collapse one into a neighbour — see commit 60de3499). Stored in
-    line, e.g. ``required_cells: backend, frontend, ux_ui``. Absent → no
+    ``orchestration_markers`` (migration 041). Absent → no constraint (the gate
-    constraint (the gate is inert). Returns normalized, de-duplicated cells in
+    is inert). Returns normalized, de-duplicated cells in marker order.
-    marker order.
     """
-    if not quick_context:
+    seen: list[str] = []
-        return []
+    for tok in markers.get_required_cells(task):
-    for raw in quick_context.splitlines():
+        cell = _normalize_cell(tok)
-        line = raw.strip()
+        if cell and cell not in seen:
-        if not line.lower().startswith(_REQUIRED_CELLS_PREFIX):
+            seen.append(cell)
-            continue
+    return seen
-        body = line[len(_REQUIRED_CELLS_PREFIX) :]
-        seen: list[str] = []
-        for tok in body.split(","):
-            cell = _normalize_cell(tok)
-            if cell and cell not in seen:
-                seen.append(cell)
-        return seen
-    return []
 
 
 # Review-task sources. The inbound-PR reviewer handles both external/fork PRs
@@ -377,40 +353,25 @@ PR_REVIEW_SOURCES = ("external_pr", "internal_pr")
 # Approve-&-Starts it; the loop itself never starts/approves/merges it.
 SELF_HEAL_SOURCE = "self_heal"
 
-_SELF_HEAL_FP_PREFIX = "self_heal_fp="
+def extract_self_heal_fingerprint(task: Any) -> str | None:
+    """The self-heal dedupe fingerprint from a task's markers, or None.
 
-
+    The per-signal dedupe key carried on a self-heal task (in
-def extract_self_heal_fingerprint(quick_context: str | None) -> str | None:
+    ``orchestration_markers`` after migration 041), so the loop can tell a
-    """The ``self_heal_fp=<fp>`` marker from quick_context, or None.
+    regression already has an open fix task.
-
-    The per-signal dedupe key carried on a self-heal task, so the loop can tell
-    a regression already has an open fix task without a schema change.
     """
-    for token in (quick_context or "").split():
+    return markers.get_self_heal_fingerprint(task)
-        if token.startswith(_SELF_HEAL_FP_PREFIX):
-            return token[len(_SELF_HEAL_FP_PREFIX) :] or None
-    return None
 
 
-_SUPERSEDE_MARKER_PREFIX = "external_pr_supersede"
+def supersede_marker_line(task: Any) -> str:
+    """The supersede marker value, or "" if none.
 
-
+    ``pr={n} review={uuid}`` plus a ``closed=1`` token once the contributor PR is
-def supersede_marker_line(quick_context: str | None) -> str:
+    retired. Stored in ``orchestration_markers`` (migration 041); dedup and
-    """Return the supersede marker line from a (multi-writer) quick_context.
+    close-state checks parse this value (``needle in ...`` / ``"closed=1" in
-
+    ....split()``) exactly as before.
-    The supersede marker (``external_pr_supersede pr={n} review={uuid}`` plus a
-    ``closed=1`` token once the contributor PR is retired) is always written on
-    its own line, while ``escalate_to_ceo`` / ``ceo_approve`` append free-form
-    CEO notes on later lines. Dedup and close-state checks therefore parse THIS
-    line rather than substring-scanning the whole field — a CEO note that
-    happened to contain ``closed=1`` or ``pr=N review=`` must not be mistaken
-    for the marker (mirrors :func:`extract_original_developer`).
     """
-    for raw in (quick_context or "").splitlines():
+    return markers.get_external_pr_supersede(task) or ""
-        line = raw.strip()
-        if line.startswith(_SUPERSEDE_MARKER_PREFIX):
-            return line
-    return ""
 
 
 class TaskService(BaseService):
@@ -705,21 +666,20 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
           open a fresh review for the change).
         """
         result = await self.session.execute(
-            select(TaskTable.quick_context).where(
+            select(TaskTable.orchestration_markers).where(
                 TaskTable.project_id == project_id,
                 TaskTable.source.in_(PR_REVIEW_SOURCES),
                 TaskTable.pr_number == pr_number,
             )
         )
-        contexts = result.scalars().all()
+        marker_rows = result.scalars().all()
-        if not contexts:
+        if not marker_rows:
             return False
         if not head_sha:
             return True
-        marker = f"external_pr_head={head_sha}"
+        for om in marker_rows:
-        for qc in contexts:
+            stored = (om or {}).get("external_pr_head")
-            text = qc or ""
+            if not stored or stored == head_sha:
-            if marker in text or "external_pr_head=" not in text:
                 return True
         return False
 
@@ -787,7 +747,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         # Record the reviewed head commit so a later push (new SHA) re-reviews,
         # while an unchanged PR is skipped (see external_review_task_exists).
         if head_sha:
-            task.quick_context = f"external_pr_head={head_sha}"
+            markers.set_external_pr_head(task, head_sha)
         await self.session.flush()
         return task
 
@@ -842,7 +802,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         return [
             t
             for t in result.scalars().all()
-            if "dismissed=1" not in (t.quick_context or "").split()
+            if not markers.is_dismissed(t)
         ]
 
     async def list_external_pr_reviews(self) -> list[TaskTable]:
@@ -873,7 +833,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         return [
             t
             for t in result.scalars().all()
-            if "dismissed=1" not in (t.quick_context or "").split()
+            if not markers.is_dismissed(t)
         ]
 
     async def dismiss_external_pr_review(self, task_id: UUID) -> TaskTable | None:
@@ -886,8 +846,8 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         task = await self.get(task_id)
         if task is None or getattr(task, "source", "") not in PR_REVIEW_SOURCES:
             return None
-        if "dismissed=1" not in (task.quick_context or "").split():
+        if not markers.is_dismissed(task):
-            task.quick_context = f"{task.quick_context or ''} dismissed=1".strip()
+            markers.mark_dismissed(task)
         await self.session.flush()
         return task
 
@@ -1010,8 +970,8 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         # rule), not the default branch. The marker links back to the review +
         # contributor PR for dedup and close-on-land (no parent link needed).
         umbrella.branch_name = branch_name
-        umbrella.quick_context = (
+        markers.set_external_pr_supersede(
-            f"external_pr_supersede pr={pr_number} review={review_task_id}"
+            umbrella, f"pr={pr_number} review={review_task_id}"
         )
         await self.session.flush()
         self.log.info(
@@ -1040,7 +1000,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         )
         needle = f"pr={pr_number} review="
         for task in result.scalars().all():
-            if needle in supersede_marker_line(task.quick_context):
+            if needle in supersede_marker_line(task):
                 return task
         return None
 
@@ -1063,7 +1023,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         )
         pending: list[TaskTable] = []
         for task in result.scalars().all():
-            if "closed=1" in supersede_marker_line(task.quick_context).split():
+            if "closed=1" in supersede_marker_line(task).split():
                 continue
             if not await self._supersede_replacement_landed(cast("UUID", task.id)):
                 continue
@@ -1106,15 +1066,9 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         task = await self.get(task_id)
         if task is None:
             return
-        lines = (task.quick_context or "").splitlines()
+        current = markers.get_external_pr_supersede(task) or ""
-        for i, raw in enumerate(lines):
+        if "closed=1" not in current.split():
-            if raw.strip().startswith(_SUPERSEDE_MARKER_PREFIX):
+            markers.set_external_pr_supersede(task, f"{current} closed=1".strip())
-                if "closed=1" not in raw.split():
-                    lines[i] = f"{raw} closed=1"
-                break
-        else:
-            lines.append(f"{_SUPERSEDE_MARKER_PREFIX} closed=1")
-        task.quick_context = "\n".join(lines)
         await self.session.flush()
 
     async def _inherit_parent_session(
@@ -1670,7 +1624,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         role = agent.role.value if hasattr(agent.role, "value") else str(agent.role)
         if role not in ("qa", "documenter"):
             return None
-        original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+        original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
         if original_dev and original_dev == str(agent_id):
             return "cannot review your own work (self-review)"
         return None
@@ -1689,14 +1643,13 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         role = agent.role.value if hasattr(agent.role, "value") else str(agent.role)
         if role not in ("qa", "documenter"):
             return
-        existing_context = task.quick_context or ""
+        if markers.get_original_developer(task):
-        if "original_developer:" in existing_context:
             return
 
         # Only set original_developer if it's a DIFFERENT agent than the one claiming
         # This prevents blocking QA/Documenter when PM assigns directly to them
         if task.assigned_to and str(task.assigned_to) != str(agent.id):
-            task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{task.assigned_to}"
+            markers.set_original_developer(task, task.assigned_to)
 
     _CLAIMABLE_STATUSES: ClassVar[set[TaskStatus]] = {
         TaskStatus.PENDING,
@@ -2469,7 +2422,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
     async def _index_qa_review_background(
         self,
         task_id: UUID,
-        quick_context: str | None,
+        original_developer: str | None,
         passed: bool,
         qa_notes: str,
         qa_agent_id: UUID | None,
@@ -2480,7 +2433,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
 
         try:
             optimal = await get_optimal_service()
-            original_dev = extract_original_developer(quick_context)
+            original_dev = original_developer
 
             await optimal.record_review(
                 IndexReviewParams(
@@ -3391,7 +3344,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         # record for self-review prevention (QA can't review own work).
         original_dev = str(task.assigned_to) if task.assigned_to else None
         if original_dev:
-            task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{original_dev}"
+            markers.set_original_developer(task, original_dev)
 
         # Capture the developer's UUID BEFORE clearing claimed_by so the
         # `task.awaiting_qa` audit row is attributed to the dev who
@@ -3481,7 +3434,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         bg_task = asyncio.create_task(
             self._index_qa_review_background(
                 require_uuid(task.id),
-                task.quick_context,
+                extract_original_developer(task),
                 True,
                 notes or "Passed QA review",
                 to_python_uuid(qa_agent_id),
@@ -3533,7 +3486,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         qa_agent_id = task.assigned_to
 
         # Reassign to original developer so they can work on revisions
-        original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+        original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
         if original_dev:
             task.assigned_to = cast("Any", UUID(original_dev))
             task.claimed_by = cast("Any", UUID(original_dev))
@@ -3557,7 +3510,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         review_task = asyncio.create_task(
             self._index_qa_review_background(
                 require_uuid(task.id),
-                task.quick_context,
+                extract_original_developer(task),
                 False,
                 notes,
                 to_python_uuid(qa_agent_id),
@@ -3665,27 +3618,29 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
 
     @staticmethod
     def _record_doc_notes(task: TaskTable, doc_notes: str | None) -> None:
-        """Append doc_notes into quick_context if supplied."""
+        """Capture the documenter's note as a structured DocNote (best-effort).
+
+        Routes through the content chokepoint so it lands in the ``doc_notes``
+        mirror + ``notes_structured``. Skips if a richer DocNote already exists
+        (the gateway ``note`` tool) or the text is too trivial to validate.
+        """
         if not doc_notes:
             return
-        task.quick_context = _append_capped(
+        if (task.notes_structured or {}).get("doc"):
-            task.quick_context, f"doc_notes:{doc_notes}"
+            return
-        )
+        try:
+            apply_structured_note(task, "doc", {"summary": doc_notes})
+        except ContentValidationError:
+            return
 
     @staticmethod
     def _record_documenter_context(task: TaskTable) -> None:
-        """Stamp documenter id into quick_context if missing."""
+        """Stamp the documenter id into orchestration markers if missing."""
         if not task.assigned_to:
             return
-        existing_context = task.quick_context or ""
+        if markers.get_documenter(task):
-        if "documenter:" in existing_context:
             return
-        doc_context = f"documenter:{task.assigned_to}"
+        markers.set_documenter(task, task.assigned_to)
-        task.quick_context = (
-            f"{existing_context}\n{doc_context}".strip()
-            if existing_context
-            else doc_context
-        )
 
     async def _resolve_pm_for_review(self, task: TaskTable) -> UUID | None:
         """Walk up the parent chain to find the PM who owns this work.
@@ -3801,17 +3756,6 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         task.pr_number = pr_number
         task.pr_url = pr_url
 
-        # Store developer who created PR in quick_context
-        if task.assigned_to:
-            existing_context = task.quick_context or ""
-            if "pr_author:" not in existing_context:
-                pr_context = f"pr_author:{task.assigned_to}"
-                task.quick_context = (
-                    f"{existing_context}\n{pr_context}".strip()
-                    if existing_context
-                    else pr_context
-                )
-
         # Check if BOTH docs_complete AND pr_created are now true
         from roboco.enforcement.task_lifecycle import check_parallel_completion
 
@@ -4620,7 +4564,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
                 task_id=str(task_id),
             )
         else:
-            original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+            original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
             if original_dev:
                 task.assigned_to = cast("Any", UUID(original_dev))
                 task.claimed_by = cast("Any", UUID(original_dev))
@@ -5335,7 +5279,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
         parent = await self.get(parent_task_id)
         if parent is None:
             return []
-        required = extract_required_cells(parent.quick_context)
+        required = extract_required_cells(parent)
         if not required:
             return []
         children = await self.get_subtasks(parent_task_id)
@@ -5548,7 +5492,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
 
         # QA / Documenter cannot claim what they themselves developed.
         if agent.role in (AgentRole.QA, AgentRole.DOCUMENTER):
-            original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+            original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
             if original_dev and str(agent.agent_id) == original_dev:
                 raise UnauthorizedError(
                     action="claim",
@@ -5670,7 +5614,7 @@ class TaskService(BaseService):
                 reason="Only documenters can mark documentation as complete",
             )
 
-        original_dev = extract_original_developer(task.quick_context)
+        original_dev = extract_original_developer(task)
         if original_dev and str(agent.agent_id) == original_dev:
             from roboco.services.audit import get_audit_service
 

tests/integration/test_lifecycle_real_db.py

@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ async def test_qa_fail_path(
     # spec layer's slug-based self-review check is a separate code path
     # (``_extract_original_developer`` in qa.py) which only fires when
     # an actor's slug equals this value, so a UUID here doesn't trip it.
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{dev_agent.id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(dev_agent.id)}
     await db_session.flush()
 
     task_service = TaskService(db_session)

tests/integration/test_task_service_background.py

@@ -574,7 +574,7 @@ async def test_index_qa_review_calls_record_review(
     dev_id = uuid4()
     await svc._index_qa_review_background(
         uuid4(),
-        f"original_developer:{dev_id}",
+        str(dev_id),
         passed=True,
         qa_notes="LGTM",
         qa_agent_id=uuid4(),

tests/integration/test_task_service_lifecycle_misc.py

@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ async def test_submit_for_qa_clears_assignment_and_records_dev(
     assert out is not None
     assert out.status == TaskStatus.AWAITING_QA
     assert out.assigned_to is None
-    assert "original_developer:" in (out.quick_context or "")
+    assert (out.orchestration_markers or {}).get("original_developer")
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ async def test_fail_qa_with_indexing_runs(
     dev_id = task_setup["agent_id"]
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
     task.status = TaskStatus.AWAITING_QA
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{dev_id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(dev_id)}
     await db_session.flush()
     fake_optimal = MagicMock()
     fake_optimal.record_review = AsyncMock()

tests/integration/test_task_service_misc.py

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ Targets:
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, cast
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ from roboco.models import AgentRole, AgentStatus, Team
 from roboco.models.base import Complexity, TaskNature, TaskStatus, TaskType
 from roboco.models.permissions import AgentContext
 from roboco.models.task import TaskCreateRequest
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.models.work_session import WorkSessionStatus
 from roboco.services.base import ValidationError
 from roboco.services.task import (
@@ -146,25 +148,25 @@ def test_default_claim_statuses_for_none() -> None:
 
 
 def test_extract_original_developer_invalid_format() -> None:
-    """Invalid UUID format returns None even when prefix matches."""
+    """Invalid UUID format returns None even when the marker is present."""
-    out = extract_original_developer("original_developer:not-a-uuid")
+    task = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers={"original_developer": "not-a-uuid"})
-    assert out is None
+    assert extract_original_developer(task) is None
 
 
 def test_extract_original_developer_no_match() -> None:
-    out = extract_original_developer("some other context")
+    task = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers={"documenter": "x"})
-    assert out is None
+    assert extract_original_developer(task) is None
 
 
 def test_extract_original_developer_empty() -> None:
-    assert extract_original_developer(None) is None
+    assert extract_original_developer(SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=None)) is None
-    assert extract_original_developer("") is None
+    assert extract_original_developer(SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers={})) is None
 
 
 def test_extract_original_developer_valid() -> None:
     test_uuid = "12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012"
-    out = extract_original_developer(f"original_developer:{test_uuid}")
+    task = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers={"original_developer": test_uuid})
-    assert out == test_uuid
+    assert extract_original_developer(task) == test_uuid
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -535,7 +537,7 @@ def test_validate_not_self_review_qa_self(task_setup: dict) -> None:
     svc = task_setup["svc"]
     aid = uuid4()
     task = MagicMock()
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{aid}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(aid)}
     agent = MagicMock(role=AgentRole.QA)
     out = svc._validate_not_self_review(task, agent, agent_id=aid)
     assert "self-review" in (out or "")
@@ -544,13 +546,13 @@ def test_validate_not_self_review_qa_self(task_setup: dict) -> None:
 def test_set_original_developer_skips_when_already_set(task_setup: dict) -> None:
     svc = task_setup["svc"]
     task = MagicMock()
-    task.quick_context = "original_developer:already-set"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": "already-set"}
     task.assigned_to = uuid4()
     agent = MagicMock(role=AgentRole.QA, id=uuid4())
-    # Should not change quick_context
+    # An existing original_developer marker must not be overwritten.
-    before = task.quick_context
+    before = dict(task.orchestration_markers)
     svc._set_original_developer_context(task, agent)
-    assert task.quick_context == before
+    assert task.orchestration_markers == before
 
 
 def test_set_original_developer_skips_when_no_role(task_setup: dict) -> None:
@@ -731,10 +733,10 @@ def test_record_documenter_context_skips_when_already(task_setup: dict) -> None:
     svc = task_setup["svc"]
     task = MagicMock()
     task.assigned_to = uuid4()
-    task.quick_context = "documenter:something"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"documenter": "something"}
-    before = task.quick_context
+    before = dict(task.orchestration_markers)
     svc._record_documenter_context(task)
-    assert task.quick_context == before
+    assert task.orchestration_markers == before
 
 
 def test_record_documenter_context_appends(task_setup: dict) -> None:
@@ -743,9 +745,10 @@ def test_record_documenter_context_appends(task_setup: dict) -> None:
     task = MagicMock()
     task.assigned_to = aid
     task.quick_context = "existing"
+    task.orchestration_markers = None
     svc._record_documenter_context(task)
-    assert "documenter:" in task.quick_context
+    assert markers.get_documenter(task) == str(aid)
-    assert "existing" in task.quick_context
+    assert task.quick_context == "existing"  # human field untouched
 
 
 def test_record_documenter_context_first_entry(task_setup: dict) -> None:
@@ -753,9 +756,9 @@ def test_record_documenter_context_first_entry(task_setup: dict) -> None:
     aid = uuid4()
     task = MagicMock()
     task.assigned_to = aid
-    task.quick_context = None
+    task.orchestration_markers = None
     svc._record_documenter_context(task)
-    assert "documenter:" in task.quick_context
+    assert markers.get_documenter(task) == str(aid)
 
 
 def test_record_completion_notes_skips_empty(task_setup: dict) -> None:
@@ -1158,16 +1161,15 @@ def test_validate_not_self_review_qa_with_different_dev(task_setup: dict) -> Non
 
 
 def test_set_original_developer_records_when_different(task_setup: dict) -> None:
-    """Cover line 889: sets quick_context when assigned_to != agent.id."""
+    """Sets the original_developer marker when assigned_to != agent.id."""
     svc = task_setup["svc"]
     task = MagicMock()
-    task.quick_context = ""
+    task.orchestration_markers = None
     other_id = uuid4()
     task.assigned_to = other_id
     agent = MagicMock(role=AgentRole.QA, id=uuid4())
     svc._set_original_developer_context(task, agent)
-    assert "original_developer:" in task.quick_context
+    assert markers.get_original_developer(task) == str(other_id)
-    assert str(other_id) in task.quick_context
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio

tests/integration/test_task_service_route_orchestration.py

@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ async def test_claim_task_for_agent_self_review_rejected(
     svc = task_setup["svc"]
     qa_id = uuid4()
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{qa_id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(qa_id)}
     await db_session.flush()
     agent_ctx = _ctx(qa_id, AgentRole.QA)
     perms = _Permissions(can_claim=True)
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ async def test_docs_complete_for_task_self_documentation_blocked(
     svc = task_setup["svc"]
     doc_id = task_setup["agent_id"]
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{doc_id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(doc_id)}
     await db_session.flush()
     agent_ctx = _ctx(doc_id, AgentRole.DOCUMENTER)
     audit_mock = AsyncMock()

tests/integration/test_task_service_transitions.py

@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ async def test_fail_qa_reassigns_to_original_developer(
     dev_id = task_setup["agent_id"]
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
     task.status = TaskStatus.AWAITING_QA
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{dev_id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(dev_id)}
     await db_session.flush()
     failed = await svc.fail_qa(task.id, notes="missing tests")
     assert failed is not None
@@ -597,7 +597,7 @@ async def test_ceo_reject_reassigns_to_original_dev(
     dev_id = task_setup["agent_id"]
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
     task.status = TaskStatus.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{dev_id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(dev_id)}
     await db_session.flush()
     rejected = await svc.ceo_reject(task.id, reason="re-do auth flow")
     assert rejected is not None
@@ -695,7 +695,7 @@ async def test_ceo_reject_writes_handoff_journal(
 
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
     task.status = TaskStatus.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{task_setup['agent_id']}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(task_setup["agent_id"])}
     await db_session.flush()
 
     reason = "AC9/AC10 totals must include cache tokens"
@@ -919,7 +919,7 @@ async def test_claim_rejects_self_review_for_qa(
     task = await svc.create(_req(task_setup))
     task.status = TaskStatus.AWAITING_QA
     task.branch_name = "feature/backend/x"
-    task.quick_context = f"original_developer:{qa_agent.id}"
+    task.orchestration_markers = {"original_developer": str(qa_agent.id)}
     await db_session.flush()
     out = await svc.claim(task.id, qa_agent.id)
     assert out is None

tests/integration/test_tasks_routes.py

@@ -2050,7 +2050,7 @@ async def test_pass_qa_self_review_forbidden(qa_client: dict) -> None:
     task = _seed_task_qa(
         qa_client,
         pr_number=42,
-        quick_context=f"original_developer:{qa_client['agent'].id}",
+        orchestration_markers={"original_developer": str(qa_client["agent"].id)},
     )
     await qa_client["db"].flush()
     response = await qa_client["client"].post(
@@ -2151,7 +2151,7 @@ async def test_fail_qa_self_review_forbidden(qa_client: dict) -> None:
     """QA cannot fail-QA on a task where they were the dev."""
     task = _seed_task_qa(
         qa_client,
-        quick_context=f"original_developer:{qa_client['agent'].id}",
+        orchestration_markers={"original_developer": str(qa_client["agent"].id)},
     )
     await qa_client["db"].flush()
     response = await qa_client["client"].post(

tests/unit/services/test_external_pr_ingest.py

@@ -1,28 +1,50 @@
 """External-PR review dedup — review once per (project, PR, head commit).
 
-``external_review_task_exists`` drives re-review off the PR's head SHA: an
+``external_review_task_exists`` drives re-review off the PR's head SHA, stored as
-unchanged PR (same head) is skipped, new commits (a new head SHA) open a fresh
+the ``external_pr_head`` orchestration marker (migration 041); dismissal is the
-review, and legacy/unknown-SHA tasks are never re-reviewed (no spam).
+``dismissed`` marker. An unchanged PR (same head) is skipped, new commits open a
+fresh review, and legacy/unknown-SHA tasks are never re-reviewed.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 import pytest
+from roboco.foundation.policy.content import markers
 from roboco.services.task import TaskService
 
 
-def _service(quick_contexts: list[str | None]) -> TaskService:
+def _service(scalar_rows: list[object]) -> TaskService:
-    """A TaskService whose review-task query returns these quick_context values."""
+    """A TaskService whose next query returns these scalar rows."""
     res = MagicMock()
-    res.scalars.return_value.all.return_value = quick_contexts
+    res.scalars.return_value.all.return_value = scalar_rows
     session = MagicMock()
     session.execute = AsyncMock(return_value=res)
+    session.flush = AsyncMock()
     return TaskService(session)
 
 
+def _markers(head: str | None = None, dismissed: bool = False) -> dict:
+    om: dict = {}
+    if head is not None:
+        om["external_pr_head"] = head
+    if dismissed:
+        om["dismissed"] = True
+    return om
+
+
+def _bind(svc: TaskService, name: str, value: object) -> None:
+    object.__setattr__(svc, name, value)
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# external_review_task_exists — scalars are orchestration_markers dicts
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_no_task_yet_ingests() -> None:
     svc = _service([])
@@ -31,14 +53,14 @@ async def test_no_task_yet_ingests() -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_same_head_sha_skips() -> None:
-    svc = _service(["external_pr_head=abc"])
+    svc = _service([_markers("abc")])
     assert await svc.external_review_task_exists(uuid4(), 170, "abc") is True
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_new_head_sha_rereviews() -> None:
     # PR got new commits since the last review → open a fresh review.
-    svc = _service(["external_pr_head=abc"])
+    svc = _service([_markers("abc")])
     assert await svc.external_review_task_exists(uuid4(), 170, "def") is False
 
 
@@ -52,25 +74,26 @@ async def test_legacy_markerless_task_not_rereviewed() -> None:
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_unknown_head_sha_does_not_spam() -> None:
     # Can't detect change (no SHA from GitHub) → treat as reviewed.
-    svc = _service(["external_pr_head=abc"])
+    svc = _service([_markers("abc")])
     assert await svc.external_review_task_exists(uuid4(), 170, None) is True
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_multiple_old_shas_still_rereviews_new() -> None:
-    svc = _service(["external_pr_head=abc", "external_pr_head=def"])
+    svc = _service([_markers("abc"), _markers("def")])
     assert await svc.external_review_task_exists(uuid4(), 170, "ghi") is False
     assert await svc.external_review_task_exists(uuid4(), 170, "def") is True
 
 
-def _bind(svc: TaskService, name: str, value: object) -> None:
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-    object.__setattr__(svc, name, value)
+# list queues — post-query dismissed filter (scalars are task objects)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_list_awaiting_decision_excludes_dismissed() -> None:
-    pending = MagicMock(quick_context="external_pr_head=abc")
+    pending = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=_markers("abc"))
-    dismissed = MagicMock(quick_context="external_pr_head=def dismissed=1")
+    dismissed = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=_markers("def", dismissed=True))
     svc = _service([pending, dismissed])
     out = await svc.list_external_pr_reviews_awaiting_decision()
     assert out == [pending]
@@ -78,10 +101,8 @@ async def test_list_awaiting_decision_excludes_dismissed() -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_list_external_pr_reviews_excludes_dismissed() -> None:
-    # The panel queue surfaces in-flight reviews too (the status filter lives in
+    reviewing = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=_markers("abc"))
-    # SQL); here we pin the post-query behavior: dismissed reviews drop out.
+    dismissed = SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=_markers("def", dismissed=True))
-    reviewing = MagicMock(quick_context="external_pr_head=abc")
-    dismissed = MagicMock(quick_context="external_pr_head=def dismissed=1")
     svc = _service([reviewing, dismissed])
     out = await svc.list_external_pr_reviews()
     assert out == [reviewing]
@@ -89,15 +110,14 @@ async def test_list_external_pr_reviews_excludes_dismissed() -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_dismiss_marks_and_is_idempotent() -> None:
-    task = MagicMock(source="external_pr", quick_context="external_pr_head=abc")
+    task = SimpleNamespace(source="external_pr", orchestration_markers=_markers("abc"))
-    session = MagicMock()
+    svc = _service([])
-    session.flush = AsyncMock()
-    svc = TaskService(session)
     _bind(svc, "get", AsyncMock(return_value=task))
     await svc.dismiss_external_pr_review(uuid4())
-    assert "dismissed=1" in task.quick_context.split()
+    assert markers.is_dismissed(task) is True
     await svc.dismiss_external_pr_review(uuid4())  # idempotent
-    assert task.quick_context.split().count("dismissed=1") == 1
+    assert markers.is_dismissed(task) is True
+    assert task.orchestration_markers["dismissed"] is True
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -111,7 +131,7 @@ async def test_dismiss_rejects_non_external_pr() -> None:
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# active_task_owns_branch — the internal-PR "is this a lifecycle PR?" check (#3)
+# active_task_owns_branch — the internal-PR "is this a lifecycle PR?" check
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 

tests/unit/services/test_pr_review_db.py

@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ async def test_ingest_creates_review_task(db_session: AsyncSession) -> None:
     assert task.task_type == TaskType.CODE
     assert task.confirmed_by_human is False
     assert task.status == TaskStatus.PENDING
-    assert task.quick_context == "external_pr_head=abc123"
+    assert task.orchestration_markers == {"external_pr_head": "abc123"}
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ async def test_ingest_new_head_rereviews(db_session: AsyncSession) -> None:
     await db_session.flush()
 
     assert rereview is not None
-    assert rereview.quick_context == "external_pr_head=def456"
+    assert rereview.orchestration_markers == {"external_pr_head": "def456"}
     reviews = await svc.list_external_pr_reviews()
     matching = [t for t in reviews if t.pr_number == EXTERNAL_PR]
     assert len(matching) == REVIEWS_AFTER_REREVIEW
@@ -376,8 +376,12 @@ async def test_find_supersede_umbrella_no_prefix_false_match(
     assert five is not None
     assert fifty is not None
     assert UUID(str(five.id)) != UUID(str(fifty.id))
-    assert "pr=5 review=" in (five.quick_context or "")
+    assert "pr=5 review=" in (five.orchestration_markers or {}).get(
-    assert "pr=50 review=" in (fifty.quick_context or "")
+        "external_pr_supersede", ""
+    )
+    assert "pr=50 review=" in (fifty.orchestration_markers or {}).get(
+        "external_pr_supersede", ""
+    )
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

tests/unit/services/test_required_cells.py

@@ -1,36 +1,53 @@
 """required_cells decomposition gate — marker parse + uncovered-cell coverage.
 
 The Main PM must create a subtask for each cell the brief explicitly names
-(recorded as a ``required_cells:`` marker on the parent's quick_context). The
+(recorded as a ``required_cells`` orchestration marker on the parent). The gate
-gate is inert when no marker is present, so legacy decompositions never block.
+is inert when no marker is present, so legacy decompositions never block.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 import pytest
 from roboco.services.task import TaskService, extract_required_cells
 
+
+def _task(required_cells: list[str] | None = None) -> SimpleNamespace:
+    om = {"required_cells": required_cells} if required_cells is not None else None
+    return SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=om)
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# extract_required_cells (marker parser)
+# extract_required_cells (marker reader)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 def test_extract_required_cells_absent_is_empty() -> None:
-    assert extract_required_cells(None) == []
+    assert extract_required_cells(_task()) == []
-    assert extract_required_cells("original_developer: abc\ndoc_notes: y") == []
+    assert (
+        extract_required_cells(
+            SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers={"original_developer": "abc"})
+        )
+        == []
+    )
 
 
-def test_extract_required_cells_parses_and_normalizes() -> None:
+def test_extract_required_cells_normalizes() -> None:
-    qc = "original_developer: abc\nrequired_cells: Backend, Frontend , UX/UI"
+    assert extract_required_cells(_task(["Backend", "Frontend ", "UX/UI"])) == [
-    assert extract_required_cells(qc) == ["backend", "frontend", "ux_ui"]
+        "backend",
+        "frontend",
+        "ux_ui",
+    ]
 
 
 def test_extract_required_cells_dedups_in_order() -> None:
-    out = extract_required_cells("required_cells: backend, backend, frontend")
+    assert extract_required_cells(_task(["backend", "backend", "frontend"])) == [
-    assert out == ["backend", "frontend"]
+        "backend",
+        "frontend",
+    ]
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -38,10 +55,12 @@ def test_extract_required_cells_dedups_in_order() -> None:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-def _service(parent_qc: str | None, child_teams: list[str | None]) -> TaskService:
+def _service(
+    required_cells: list[str] | None, child_teams: list[str | None]
+) -> TaskService:
     """A TaskService whose get()/get_subtasks() return a parent + these children."""
     svc = TaskService(MagicMock())
-    parent = MagicMock(quick_context=parent_qc)
+    parent = _task(required_cells)
     children = [MagicMock(team=t) for t in child_teams]
     object.__setattr__(svc, "get", AsyncMock(return_value=parent))
     object.__setattr__(svc, "get_subtasks", AsyncMock(return_value=children))
@@ -50,25 +69,25 @@ def _service(parent_qc: str | None, child_teams: list[str | None]) -> TaskServic
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_uncovered_inert_without_marker() -> None:
-    svc = _service("doc_notes: x", ["backend"])
+    svc = _service(None, ["backend"])
     assert await svc.uncovered_required_cells(uuid4()) == []
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_uncovered_flags_the_dropped_cell() -> None:
     # Brief named backend+frontend+ux_ui; only backend+frontend got subtasks.
-    svc = _service("required_cells: backend, frontend, ux_ui", ["backend", "frontend"])
+    svc = _service(["backend", "frontend", "ux_ui"], ["backend", "frontend"])
     assert await svc.uncovered_required_cells(uuid4()) == ["ux_ui"]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_uncovered_empty_when_all_named_cells_covered() -> None:
-    svc = _service("required_cells: backend, frontend", ["frontend", "backend"])
+    svc = _service(["backend", "frontend"], ["frontend", "backend"])
     assert await svc.uncovered_required_cells(uuid4()) == []
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_uncovered_normalizes_child_team_form() -> None:
     # Marker uses underscore, child team uses the slash form — they match.
-    svc = _service("required_cells: ux_ui", ["UX/UI"])
+    svc = _service(["ux_ui"], ["UX/UI"])
     assert await svc.uncovered_required_cells(uuid4()) == []

tests/unit/services/test_self_heal_originate_db.py

@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ async def test_originate_creates_pending_main_pm_assigned_task(
     assert task.team == Team.MAIN_PM
     assert task.source == "self_heal"
     assert task.acceptance_criteria  # non-empty (AC-guardrail)
-    assert "self_heal_fp=" in (task.quick_context or "")
+    assert (task.orchestration_markers or {}).get("self_heal_fp")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio

tests/unit/services/test_supersede_umbrella.py

@@ -1,21 +1,15 @@
-"""Supersede umbrella close-on-land guards.
+"""Supersede umbrella close-on-land guards (orchestration-marker storage).
 
-Covers the parts of the external-PR supersede flow that decide whether — and
+The supersede marker (``pr={n} review={uuid}`` plus a ``closed=1`` token once
-which — a landed supersede's contributor PR gets retired:
+the contributor PR is retired) lives in ``orchestration_markers`` after
-
+migration 041 — isolated from the human ``quick_context``, so CEO escalation /
-- ``supersede_marker_line`` anchors marker/state checks to the marker line, so
+approval notes can no longer be mistaken for it.
-  free-form CEO escalation/approval notes appended to the same multi-writer
-  ``quick_context`` can't be mistaken for the marker.
-- ``supersede_umbrellas_pending_close`` only returns umbrellas whose
-  replacement work actually landed (a non-cancelled descendant carrying a PR),
-  not every COMPLETED umbrella — the CEO can force-complete over a cancelled
-  code subtask.
-- ``mark_supersede_pr_closed`` writes the ``closed=1`` idempotency token onto
-  the marker line, surviving appended notes.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+from types import SimpleNamespace
+from typing import Any
 from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock
 from uuid import uuid4
 
@@ -23,11 +17,10 @@ import pytest
 from roboco.models.base import TaskStatus
 from roboco.services.task import TaskService, supersede_marker_line
 
-_MARKER = "external_pr_supersede pr=5 review=abc"
+_VALUE = "pr=5 review=abc"
 
 
 def _scalars_all(rows: list[object]) -> MagicMock:
-    """A session.execute return value whose .scalars().all() yields `rows`."""
     res = MagicMock()
     res.scalars.return_value.all.return_value = rows
     return res
@@ -44,25 +37,23 @@ def _bind(svc: TaskService, name: str, value: object) -> None:
     object.__setattr__(svc, name, value)
 
 
+def _task(supersede: str | None = None, **kw: Any) -> SimpleNamespace:
+    om = {"external_pr_supersede": supersede} if supersede is not None else None
+    return SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=om, **kw)
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# supersede_marker_line — line anchoring
+# supersede_marker_line — reads the marker value
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-def test_marker_line_returns_marker_ignoring_appended_notes() -> None:
+def test_marker_line_returns_value() -> None:
-    qc = f"{_MARKER}\nceo_approval_notes: shipped, looks good"
+    assert supersede_marker_line(_task(_VALUE)) == _VALUE
-    assert supersede_marker_line(qc) == _MARKER
-
-
-def test_marker_line_not_fooled_by_closed_token_in_note() -> None:
-    qc = f"{_MARKER}\nceo_approval_notes: marked closed=1 in jira"
-    # The marker line itself carries no closed=1, so the PR is NOT yet closed.
-    assert "closed=1" not in supersede_marker_line(qc).split()
 
 
 def test_marker_line_empty_when_absent() -> None:
-    assert supersede_marker_line("no marker here\nescalation_notes: x") == ""
+    assert supersede_marker_line(_task()) == ""
-    assert supersede_marker_line(None) == ""
+    assert supersede_marker_line(SimpleNamespace(orchestration_markers=None)) == ""
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -72,29 +63,25 @@ def test_marker_line_empty_when_absent() -> None:
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_pending_close_excludes_umbrella_with_closed_marker() -> None:
-    umbrella = MagicMock(id=uuid4(), quick_context=f"{_MARKER} closed=1")
+    umbrella = _task(f"{_VALUE} closed=1", id=uuid4())
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([umbrella]))
     _bind(svc, "_supersede_replacement_landed", AsyncMock(return_value=True))
     assert await svc.supersede_umbrellas_pending_close() == []
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_pending_close_keeps_umbrella_with_closed_token_only_in_note() -> None:
+async def test_pending_close_keeps_open_landed_umbrella() -> None:
-    # A CEO note containing the literal "closed=1" must NOT retire the PR.
+    umbrella = _task(_VALUE, id=uuid4())
-    umbrella = MagicMock(
-        id=uuid4(), quick_context=f"{_MARKER}\nceo_approval_notes: closed=1 elsewhere"
-    )
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([umbrella]))
     _bind(svc, "_supersede_replacement_landed", AsyncMock(return_value=True))
-    out = await svc.supersede_umbrellas_pending_close()
+    assert await svc.supersede_umbrellas_pending_close() == [umbrella]
-    assert out == [umbrella]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_pending_close_requires_landed_replacement() -> None:
     # COMPLETED + no closed marker, but the replacement never landed (the code
     # subtask was cancelled) — close-on-land must skip it.
-    umbrella = MagicMock(id=uuid4(), quick_context=_MARKER)
+    umbrella = _task(_VALUE, id=uuid4())
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([umbrella]))
     _bind(svc, "_supersede_replacement_landed", AsyncMock(return_value=False))
     assert await svc.supersede_umbrellas_pending_close() == []
@@ -116,7 +103,6 @@ async def test_replacement_landed_true_for_completed_descendant_with_pr() -> Non
 async def test_replacement_landed_false_when_descendant_cancelled() -> None:
     child = MagicMock(id=uuid4(), status=TaskStatus.CANCELLED, pr_number=42)
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([child]))
-    # The `seen` guard terminates the walk even though the mock re-returns child.
     assert await svc._supersede_replacement_landed(uuid4()) is False
 
 
@@ -128,44 +114,37 @@ async def test_replacement_landed_false_when_completed_without_pr() -> None:
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# find_supersede_umbrella — marker-line dedup
+# find_supersede_umbrella — value dedup (pr=N review= prefix match)
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_find_umbrella_matches_marker_not_note() -> None:
+async def test_find_umbrella_matches_by_value() -> None:
-    match = MagicMock(id=uuid4(), quick_context=f"{_MARKER}\nescalation_notes: x")
+    match = _task(_VALUE, id=uuid4())
-    other = MagicMock(
+    other = _task("pr=9 review=z", id=uuid4())  # different PR
-        id=uuid4(),
-        # marker for a different PR, but a note mentions "pr=5 review=" text
-        quick_context="external_pr_supersede pr=9 review=z\nnote: see pr=5 review= ok",
-    )
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([other, match]))
     found = await svc.find_supersede_umbrella(uuid4(), 5)
     assert found is match
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# mark_supersede_pr_closed — token written on the marker line
+# mark_supersede_pr_closed — token appended to the marker value
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_mark_closed_appends_token_to_marker_line() -> None:
+async def test_mark_closed_appends_token() -> None:
-    task = MagicMock(quick_context=f"{_MARKER}\nceo_approval_notes: shipped")
+    task = _task(_VALUE)
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([]))
     _bind(svc, "get", AsyncMock(return_value=task))
     await svc.mark_supersede_pr_closed(uuid4())
-    lines = task.quick_context.splitlines()
+    assert supersede_marker_line(task) == f"{_VALUE} closed=1"
-    assert lines[0] == f"{_MARKER} closed=1"
-    assert lines[1] == "ceo_approval_notes: shipped"  # note untouched
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
-async def test_mark_closed_is_idempotent_on_marker_line() -> None:
+async def test_mark_closed_is_idempotent() -> None:
-    task = MagicMock(quick_context=f"{_MARKER} closed=1\nceo_approval_notes: x")
+    task = _task(f"{_VALUE} closed=1")
     svc = _service(_scalars_all([]))
     _bind(svc, "get", AsyncMock(return_value=task))
     await svc.mark_supersede_pr_closed(uuid4())
-    # No second closed=1 token appended.
+    assert supersede_marker_line(task) == f"{_VALUE} closed=1"
-    assert task.quick_context.splitlines()[0] == f"{_MARKER} closed=1"