Close residual gaps: CEO escalation from blocked, ref repair, reset-script state

Three independent residual hardenings surfaced by the smoke run:

- escalate_to_ceo is now reachable from a blocked task (source widened to
  {awaiting_pm_review, blocked} with a matching status-transition row), so a
  main_pm or board agent has a clean verb to surface a task it cannot resolve
  to the CEO — who can then approve, reject, or cancel it. Regenerated the
  lifecycle artifacts (status-transitions doc + panel JSON) to match.

- WorkspaceService now prunes broken loose refs (.bak debris and any ref whose
  contents are neither an object id nor a symref) before the refresh fetch, so
  a ref left corrupt by an interrupted recovery no longer produces per-operation
  "broken ref" warnings or wedges ref enumeration. Best-effort, file-reads-only.

- The reset script's full-reset Claude-state clear now defaults to the
  replay-state subdirs (projects/, todos/) of the mounted Claude home and
  refuses to clear the home root, so a full reset actually clears conversation
  replay state by default without wiping the host's stored credentials.

docs/rag/lifecycle/status-transitions.md

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 | awaiting_qa | needs_revision | qa_fail | qa |
 | backlog | cancelled | cancel | cell_pm, ceo, main_pm |
 | backlog | pending | activate | any |
+| blocked | awaiting_ceo_approval | escalate_to_ceo | head_marketing, main_pm, product_owner |
 | blocked | cancelled | cancel | cell_pm, ceo, main_pm |
 | blocked | in_progress | unblock | any |
 | blocked | pending | unblock | any |

panel/lib/lifecycle.json

@@ -456,6 +456,16 @@
       "source": "backlog",
       "target": "pending"
     },
+    {
+      "action": "escalate_to_ceo",
+      "roles": [
+        "head_marketing",
+        "main_pm",
+        "product_owner"
+      ],
+      "source": "blocked",
+      "target": "awaiting_ceo_approval"
+    },
     {
       "action": "cancel",
       "roles": [

roboco/foundation/policy/lifecycle.py

@@ -285,6 +285,13 @@ _STATUS_TRANSITIONS: tuple[StatusTransition, ...] = (
         "escalate_to_ceo",
         frozenset({Role.MAIN_PM, Role.PRODUCT_OWNER, Role.HEAD_MARKETING}),
     ),
+    # A blocked task the PM cannot resolve can be surfaced to the CEO directly.
+    StatusTransition(
+        Status.BLOCKED,
+        Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL,
+        "escalate_to_ceo",
+        frozenset({Role.MAIN_PM, Role.PRODUCT_OWNER, Role.HEAD_MARKETING}),
+    ),
     # CEO approve / reject
     StatusTransition(
         Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL,
@@ -510,7 +517,10 @@ _ATOMIC_ACTIONS: dict[str, ActionSpec] = {
                 Role.HEAD_MARKETING,
             }
         ),
-        source_statuses=frozenset({Status.AWAITING_PM_REVIEW}),
+        # Reachable from a completed review (the normal sign-off escalation) AND
+        # from a blocked task the PM cannot resolve — so a wedged task has a
+        # clean verb to a human decision instead of only the admin override.
+        source_statuses=frozenset({Status.AWAITING_PM_REVIEW, Status.BLOCKED}),
         target_status=Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL,
         allowed_task_types=None,
         preconditions=(),

roboco/services/workspace.py

@@ -40,6 +40,11 @@ from roboco.models.base import Team
 
 logger = get_logger(__name__)
 
+# A healthy loose ref file holds either an object id (sha1 = 40 hex, sha256 = 64
+# hex) or a symbolic ref ("ref: refs/..."). Anything else is debris — used to
+# detect broken loose refs left by interrupted recovery before a fetch.
+_REF_OBJECT_ID_RE = re.compile(r"\A[0-9a-f]{40}\Z|\A[0-9a-f]{64}\Z")
+
 # Agent container runs the `agent` user created in agent-base.Dockerfile.
 # Debian's `useradd -m` defaults to uid 1000 when that uid is free.
 # Overridable via env so operators can customize if they rebuild agent-base
@@ -416,6 +421,44 @@ class WorkspaceService:
             and (git_dir / "objects").exists()
         )
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _prune_broken_refs(workspace: Path) -> None:
+        """Drop debris loose refs before a fetch. Best-effort; never raises.
+
+        Interrupted hard-stop recovery can leave ``.bak`` ref debris and
+        truncated/garbage loose-ref files under ``.git/refs``. Git tolerates
+        them but emits a "ignoring broken ref" warning on every ref-walking
+        operation (fetch included), which pollutes logs and can wedge ref
+        enumeration. Remove ``.bak`` debris and any loose ref whose contents are
+        neither an object id nor a symref. Reads files only — no per-ref
+        subprocess — so it stays cheap even on a many-branch monorepo clone.
+        """
+        refs_dir = workspace / ".git" / "refs"
+        if not refs_dir.is_dir():
+            return
+        try:
+            for ref_file in refs_dir.rglob("*"):
+                if not ref_file.is_file():
+                    continue
+                if ref_file.suffix == ".bak":
+                    ref_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+                    continue
+                content = ref_file.read_text(encoding="utf-8", errors="replace").strip()
+                if not (
+                    _REF_OBJECT_ID_RE.match(content) or content.startswith("ref: ")
+                ):
+                    logger.debug(
+                        "ensure_workspace: pruning broken loose ref",
+                        ref=str(ref_file),
+                    )
+                    ref_file.unlink(missing_ok=True)
+        except OSError as exc:
+            logger.warning(
+                "ensure_workspace: broken-ref prune failed",
+                workspace=str(workspace),
+                error=str(exc),
+            )
+
     @staticmethod
     async def _fetch_origin_best_effort(workspace: Path, project_slug: str) -> None:
         """Refresh `origin`'s refs into a healthy clone. Never raises.
@@ -603,6 +646,10 @@ class WorkspaceService:
                 # the first call always runs the fetch regardless of clock value.
                 last_fetch = self._fetch_cache.get(str(workspace), -math.inf)
                 if force or (now - last_fetch) >= _FETCH_CACHE_TTL_SECONDS:
+                    # Repair broken-ref debris first so the fetch (and the
+                    # agent's later `git diff/log origin/...`) doesn't trip on a
+                    # ref left corrupt by an interrupted recovery.
+                    await asyncio.to_thread(self._prune_broken_refs, workspace)
                     await self._fetch_origin_best_effort(workspace, project_slug)
                     self._fetch_cache[str(workspace)] = _monotonic()
                 # Re-chown so the agent user can still write into .git

scripts/reset_runtime_state.sh

@@ -78,11 +78,17 @@ fi
 
 # Optional full clean-slate (opt-in via FULL_RESET=1): wipe everything under the
 # roboco data root EXCEPT the persistent service stores (ollama / postgres /
-# redis), and clear any persisted agent Claude session state that would
+# redis), and clear the persisted agent Claude session state that would
 # otherwise replay across runs. Default OFF — the workspace git-reset below is
 # the usual path. The data root is resolved from the workspaces root's parent
-# (or ROBOCO_DATA_ROOT); the Claude-state paths come from ROBOCO_CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS
+# (or ROBOCO_DATA_ROOT).
-# (space-separated) so nothing is guessed.
+#
+# Claude session state lives under the mounted Claude home (ROBOCO_HOST_CLAUDE_DIR,
+# the same dir the agent containers mount). When ROBOCO_CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS is unset
+# we clear the conversation-transcript and todo subdirs of that home — the state
+# that replays across runs — and NEVER the home root itself, which holds
+# `.credentials.json` (wiping it would log the host out of Claude). Override
+# ROBOCO_CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS (space-separated) to target different paths.
 if [ "${FULL_RESET:-0}" = "1" ]; then
     DATA_ROOT="${ROBOCO_DATA_ROOT:-}"
     if [ -z "$DATA_ROOT" ]; then
@@ -110,7 +116,16 @@ if [ "${FULL_RESET:-0}" = "1" ]; then
     else
         echo ">>> FULL_RESET: no data root resolved — skipping data wipe."
     fi
-    for cdir in ${ROBOCO_CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS:-}; do
+    CLAUDE_HOME="${ROBOCO_HOST_CLAUDE_DIR:-$HOME/.claude}"
+    CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS="${ROBOCO_CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS:-$CLAUDE_HOME/projects $CLAUDE_HOME/todos}"
+    for cdir in $CLAUDE_STATE_DIRS; do
+        # Never wipe the Claude home itself — credentials live there.
+        case "$cdir" in
+            "$CLAUDE_HOME" | "$CLAUDE_HOME/")
+                echo "    refusing to clear Claude home $cdir (holds credentials)"
+                continue
+                ;;
+        esac
         if [ -e "$cdir" ]; then
             echo "    clearing Claude session state $cdir"
             rm -rf "$cdir"

tests/foundation/test_lifecycle_consumer_parity.py

@@ -1025,7 +1025,7 @@ async def test_escalate_to_ceo_matches_spec(role: str, status: str) -> None:
 
       - role in {main_pm, product_owner, head_marketing},
       - composed ``escalate_to_ceo`` action's source_status
-        (AWAITING_PM_REVIEW only).
+        (AWAITING_PM_REVIEW or BLOCKED).
 
     The verb body keeps the journal:decision preflight (the spec doesn't
     model journal side effects); satisfied here so the spec gate is the

tests/foundation/test_lifecycle_spec.py

@@ -242,6 +242,8 @@ def test_status_transitions_includes_ceo_paths() -> None:
     ) in sources
     assert (spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL, spec.Status.COMPLETED) in sources
     assert (spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL, spec.Status.NEEDS_REVISION) in sources
+    # A blocked task the PM cannot resolve can also be surfaced to the CEO.
+    assert (spec.Status.BLOCKED, spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL) in sources
 
 
 def test_status_transitions_includes_block_pause_paths() -> None:
@@ -307,20 +309,35 @@ def test_status_transitions_role_constraints_match_canon() -> None:
     assert by_pair[
         (spec.Status.AWAITING_PM_REVIEW, spec.Status.COMPLETED, "complete")
     ] == frozenset({spec.Role.CELL_PM, spec.Role.MAIN_PM})
-    # escalate_to_ceo: main_pm + product_owner + head_marketing
+    # escalate_to_ceo: main_pm + product_owner + head_marketing — from a
-    assert by_pair[
+    # completed review and from a blocked task, same role gate.
-        (
+    escalate_roles = frozenset(
-            spec.Status.AWAITING_PM_REVIEW,
-            spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL,
-            "escalate_to_ceo",
-        )
-    ] == frozenset(
         {
             spec.Role.MAIN_PM,
             spec.Role.PRODUCT_OWNER,
             spec.Role.HEAD_MARKETING,
         }
     )
+    assert (
+        by_pair[
+            (
+                spec.Status.AWAITING_PM_REVIEW,
+                spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL,
+                "escalate_to_ceo",
+            )
+        ]
+        == escalate_roles
+    )
+    assert (
+        by_pair[
+            (
+                spec.Status.BLOCKED,
+                spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL,
+                "escalate_to_ceo",
+            )
+        ]
+        == escalate_roles
+    )
     # CEO actions: CEO only
     assert by_pair[
         (spec.Status.AWAITING_CEO_APPROVAL, spec.Status.COMPLETED, "ceo_approve")

tests/unit/services/test_workspace_prune_broken_refs.py

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+"""`WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs` drops debris loose refs before a fetch.
+
+Interrupted hard-stop recovery can leave `.bak` ref debris and truncated/garbage
+loose-ref files under `.git/refs`. The prune reads files only (no git subprocess),
+so these tests just stage a `.git/refs` tree on disk.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
+from roboco.services.workspace import WorkspaceService
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from pathlib import Path
+
+_VALID_SHA1 = "a" * 40
+_VALID_SHA256 = "b" * 64
+
+
+def _make_heads(workspace: Path) -> Path:
+    heads = workspace / ".git" / "refs" / "heads"
+    heads.mkdir(parents=True)
+    return heads
+
+
+def test_keeps_valid_sha1_ref(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    good = _make_heads(tmp_path) / "main"
+    good.write_text(_VALID_SHA1 + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs(tmp_path)
+    assert good.exists()
+
+
+def test_keeps_valid_sha256_ref(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    good = _make_heads(tmp_path) / "main"
+    good.write_text(_VALID_SHA256 + "\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs(tmp_path)
+    assert good.exists()
+
+
+def test_keeps_symref(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    sym = _make_heads(tmp_path) / "current"
+    sym.write_text("ref: refs/heads/main\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs(tmp_path)
+    assert sym.exists()
+
+
+def test_removes_bak_debris_even_with_valid_content(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    bak = _make_heads(tmp_path) / "feature.bak"
+    bak.write_text(_VALID_SHA1, encoding="utf-8")
+    WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs(tmp_path)
+    assert not bak.exists()
+
+
+def test_removes_garbage_ref(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    junk = _make_heads(tmp_path) / "broken"
+    junk.write_text("not-a-sha-or-symref garbage", encoding="utf-8")
+    WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs(tmp_path)
+    assert not junk.exists()
+
+
+def test_no_git_refs_dir_is_noop(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    # No .git/refs present — must not raise.
+    WorkspaceService._prune_broken_refs(tmp_path)