From dbb0554288cca46cfe1067bc3eaca0104f576bd7 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Andriujose <43181885+andriujoseba@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 19:07:08 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 1/4] docs: clarify attention target

---
 TRIAGE.md          | 5 ++++-
 changelog.d/230.md | 5 +++++
 2 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-)
 create mode 100644 changelog.d/230.md

diff --git a/TRIAGE.md b/TRIAGE.md
index 75e1b6d..e2cbe53 100644
--- a/TRIAGE.md
+++ b/TRIAGE.md
@@ -68,7 +68,10 @@ is the failure this whole flow exists to prevent.
    agreement is reached, record the ruling as a decision in one comment,
    remove the label, and return the issue to its flow in that same comment;
    when that ruling or any directive or answered builder question delivers
-   the assignee's next move in prose, set `attention` in the same comment.
+   the assignee's next move in prose, set `attention` in the same comment on
+   the assigned issue that owns the claim — never on the pull request, even
+   when the comment lives there. An unassigned issue is a board bug, not a
+   demand; repair the board rather than setting `attention`.
    This is not a substitute for minting work or for `needs-ruling`.
 4. **Decline.** Real idea, wrong repo or wrong time. Say why plainly, link
    where it belongs if anywhere, close. A refusal with reasons is a good
diff --git a/changelog.d/230.md b/changelog.d/230.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..159ce2b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/230.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+### Fixed
+
+- Triage now puts `attention` on the assigned issue that owns a claim, never
+  on its pull request, and treats an unassigned issue as a board bug rather
+  than a demand (#230).

From e7750c0c8ffd879eec65c46577bf8ac96e6fd011 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Andriujose <43181885+andriujoseba@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 19:48:15 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 2/4] feat: diagnose malformed attention targets

---
 .../issueflow-reconcile.sh                    | 15 +++
 actions/labels-reconcile/labels-reconcile.sh  |  9 ++
 lib/attention.sh                              | 97 +++++++++++++++++++
 3 files changed, 121 insertions(+)
 create mode 100644 lib/attention.sh

diff --git a/actions/issueflow-reconcile/issueflow-reconcile.sh b/actions/issueflow-reconcile/issueflow-reconcile.sh
index 4e29f84..5a09755 100644
--- a/actions/issueflow-reconcile/issueflow-reconcile.sh
+++ b/actions/issueflow-reconcile/issueflow-reconcile.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ TRIAGE_ACTORS=()
 # The needs-ruling invariants (#52) — one implementation for both surfaces.
 # shellcheck source=lib/ruling.sh
 . "$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)/../../lib/ruling.sh"
+# The attention target invariants (#232) — diagnosis only, both surfaces.
+# shellcheck source=lib/attention.sh
+. "$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)/../../lib/attention.sh"
 # The guarded read and its reason line (#101, #247) — one implementation for
 # both surfaces.
 # shellcheck source=lib/read.sh
@@ -452,6 +455,7 @@ reconcile_issue() {
   local n="$1" decision refs cross_refs states age created assignees open_pr=false label owners
   local merged_ref_pr="" transition_marker="" transition_handled=false
   local unchecked="" remove_claimed=claimed
+  local attention_active=true attention_suppression=""
   decision="$(queue_decision <<<"$ISSUE_LABELS")"
   case "$decision" in
     ADD_NEEDS_TRIAGE)
@@ -495,6 +499,7 @@ The merge releases the claim; no builder owes a draft. Triage owes completion in
           --remove-label "$remove_claimed" --add-label post-merge >/dev/null
       fi
       log "#$n: merged Refs PR -> post-merge; claim released"
+      attention_active=false
     else
       created="$(jq -r '.created_at' <<<"$ISSUE_JSON")"
       guarded_read age last_issue_activity "$n" "$created" \
@@ -526,6 +531,7 @@ The merge releases the claim; no builder owes a draft. Triage owes completion in
           fi
           log "#$n: stale claim reclaimed -> ready" ;;
       esac
+      [ "$decision" != FLAG_UNASSIGNED ] || attention_suppression=claimed-unassigned
       if has_issue_label offsite; then
         local timeline
         if timeline="$(offsite_timeline "$n")"; then
@@ -546,6 +552,7 @@ The merge releases the claim; no builder owes a draft. Triage owes completion in
         'This `post-merge` issue has an assignee or `attention`. The sweep will not undo hand-set intent; triage must clear the invalid composition or move the issue back into buildable queue state.'
       log "#$n: assigned or attention-bearing post-merge issue flagged"
     fi
+    attention_suppression=post-merge-assigned
   elif has_issue_label blocked; then
     refs="$(blocked_references <<<"$(jq -r '.body // ""' <<<"$ISSUE_JSON")")"
     cross_refs="$(blocked_cross_references <<<"$(jq -r '.body // ""' <<<"$ISSUE_JSON")")"
@@ -574,6 +581,14 @@ The merge releases the claim; no builder owes a draft. Triage owes completion in
     fi
   fi
 
+  # The flag composes with every build queue state, but requires an assignee.
+  # Existing post-merge/claimed diagnostics take precedence so one board bug
+  # draws one comment (#232 D5); the shared helper still logs the suppression.
+  if [ "$attention_active" = true ] && has_issue_label attention; then
+    [ -n "${assignees:-}" ] || assignees="$(jq '.assignees | length' <<<"$ISSUE_JSON")"
+    reconcile_attention "$n" issue "$assignees" "$attention_suppression"
+  fi
+
   # ---- the ruling invariants (#52), on any queue state ----
   # The flag composes with the queue labels (#50 D8), so this runs after the
   # queue branches rather than inside one of them. The FLAG_CONFLICT return
diff --git a/actions/labels-reconcile/labels-reconcile.sh b/actions/labels-reconcile/labels-reconcile.sh
index 97ada8a..a2ef589 100755
--- a/actions/labels-reconcile/labels-reconcile.sh
+++ b/actions/labels-reconcile/labels-reconcile.sh
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@ SELF_WORKFLOW="${SELF_WORKFLOW:-${GITHUB_WORKFLOW:-}}"
 # The needs-ruling invariants (#52) — one implementation for both surfaces.
 # shellcheck source=lib/ruling.sh
 . "$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)/../../lib/ruling.sh"
+# The attention target invariants (#232) — diagnosis only, both surfaces.
+# shellcheck source=lib/attention.sh
+. "$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)/../../lib/attention.sh"
 # The guarded read and its reason line (#101) — one implementation for both
 # surfaces. read_failure_reason lived here until the issue surface needed the
 # identical rule (#247); a second copy of it is the failure lib/ruling.sh's
@@ -921,6 +924,12 @@ reconcile_pr() { # $1 = PR number; relies on the globals set from its fetch
   if has_label needs-ruling; then
     reconcile_ruling "$n" "$last_activity_epoch" "$NOW"
   fi
+
+  # `attention` belongs on the assigned issue that owns the claim, never on
+  # a pull request (#232). Behind the label gate so ordinary PRs pay no read.
+  if has_label attention; then
+    reconcile_attention "$n" pr "$(jq '.assignees | length' <<<"$PR_JSON")" ""
+  fi
 }
 
 main() {
diff --git a/lib/attention.sh b/lib/attention.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2e2e6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/attention.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# lib/attention.sh — the `attention` target invariants (#232, epic #229).
+#
+# Both reconcilers source this file. Pure decisions sit above the divider;
+# the impure orchestrator below reads the current label episode and comments
+# through the sourcing script's run()/log(). The machine diagnoses only: it
+# never sets, clears, retargets or assigns anything on the strength of these
+# checks (#229 D2).
+
+ATTENTION_MARKER_PREFIX='<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:'
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# Pure decisions. Facts in, verdict out. No gh, no clock.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+attention_target_decision() { # $1 pr|issue, $2 assignee count → MALFORMED_* | KEEP
+  case "$1" in
+    pr) echo MALFORMED_PR ;;
+    issue)
+      if [ "$2" -eq 0 ]; then echo MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED; else echo KEEP; fi ;;
+    *) return 2 ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+attention_comment_decision() { # $1 target verdict, $2 suppression → POST | SUPPRESS | KEEP
+  case "$1" in
+    KEEP) echo KEEP ;;
+    MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED)
+      if [ -n "$2" ]; then echo SUPPRESS; else echo POST; fi ;;
+    MALFORMED_PR) echo POST ;;
+    *) return 2 ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+attention_newest_flag() { # labeled-event ISO-8601 timestamps on stdin → newest
+  sort | tail -n1
+}
+
+attention_episode_marker() { # $1 current episode's labeled timestamp
+  printf '%s%s -->\n' "$ATTENTION_MARKER_PREFIX" "$1"
+}
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# The impure orchestrator. Called only behind a has-attention gate.
+# Needs REPO; uses the caller's run() and log().
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+reconcile_attention() { # $1 item, $2 pr|issue, $3 assignees, $4 suppression
+  local n="$1" surface="$2" assignees="$3" suppression="${4:-}"
+  local target comment labeled_events labeled_at marker comments body
+  : "${REPO:?reconcile_attention: REPO is required}"
+
+  target="$(attention_target_decision "$surface" "$assignees")"
+  comment="$(attention_comment_decision "$target" "$suppression")"
+  [ "$comment" != KEEP ] || return 0
+
+  if [ "$comment" = SUPPRESS ]; then
+    log "#$n: malformed attention detected; comment suppressed by $suppression precedence"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if ! labeled_events="$(gh api --paginate "repos/$REPO/issues/$n/timeline" \
+    --jq '.[] | select(.event == "labeled" and .label.name == "attention")
+          | .created_at' 2>/dev/null)"; then
+    log "#$n: attention timeline unreadable — no verdict invented this pass"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  if [ -z "$labeled_events" ]; then
+    log "#$n: attention flag has no visible labeled event — no verdict invented this pass"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  labeled_at="$(attention_newest_flag <<<"$labeled_events")"
+  marker="$(attention_episode_marker "$labeled_at")"
+
+  if ! comments="$(gh api --paginate "repos/$REPO/issues/$n/comments" \
+    --jq '.[].body // ""' 2>/dev/null)"; then
+    log "#$n: attention comments unreadable — no verdict invented this pass"
+    return 0
+  fi
+  grep -qF "$marker" <<<"$comments" && return 0
+
+  case "$target" in
+    MALFORMED_PR)
+      body="$marker
+This pull request carries \`attention\`, but that label is issue-only. Put
+the label on the assigned issue that owns the claim. The sweep cannot infer
+which issue that is, so it reports the malformed target without removing or
+retargeting the label (heavy-duty/ceremony#232)." ;;
+    MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED)
+      body="$marker
+This issue carries \`attention\` but has no assignee to receive the demand.
+Assign the intended builder or remove the flag. The sweep reports the board
+bug without assigning anyone or changing the label (heavy-duty/ceremony#232)." ;;
+  esac
+  run gh issue comment "$n" -R "$REPO" --body "$body" >/dev/null
+  log "#$n: malformed attention ($surface) — commented; no label or assignee changed"
+}

From a9b3f4d766fcaa244c36ebc30828fbf67642a466 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Andriujose <43181885+andriujoseba@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 19:53:25 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 3/4] test: cover attention target diagnostics

---
 LABELS.md                        |  8 +--
 changelog.d/232.md               |  5 ++
 lib/attention.sh                 |  4 +-
 test/attention.test.sh           | 47 +++++++++++++++++
 test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh | 87 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 test/labels-reconcile.test.sh    | 75 ++++++++++++++++++++++++---
 6 files changed, 214 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 changelog.d/232.md
 create mode 100644 test/attention.test.sh

diff --git a/LABELS.md b/LABELS.md
index af7ccf3..0f6acd4 100644
--- a/LABELS.md
+++ b/LABELS.md
@@ -175,9 +175,11 @@ take. It is hand-set: the machine never sets `attention`, never assigns
 anyone to receive one, and never decides that one has been answered — the
 assignee's removal is the only ack. It writes the label in exactly one
 place, the derived `claimed` → `post-merge` transition below, and nowhere
-else; where it reads the flag it reads it to diagnose, and a diagnosis is a
-comment that leaves the label alone. No reconciler enforces the assignee
-requirement either: an unassigned flag may be reported, never repaired.
+else; where it reads the flag it reads it to diagnose. The PR sweep comments
+when `attention` is put on a pull request, and the issue sweep comments when
+it is put on an issue with no assignee. Both diagnoses leave the label and
+assignees alone; the machine never infers the claim issue, decides that the
+demand was answered, or repairs either malformed shape.
 An `attention` issue without an assignee is therefore a board bug, not a
 demand; anyone may assign it or remove the flag. It never composes with
 `post-merge`, whose released claim has no assignee to answer the demand. The
diff --git a/changelog.d/232.md b/changelog.d/232.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6785136
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/232.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+### Added
+
+- The label and issue-flow sweeps now comment once per episode when
+  `attention` targets a pull request or an unassigned issue, without
+  retargeting the demand or changing labels or assignees (#232).
diff --git a/lib/attention.sh b/lib/attention.sh
index e2e2e6a..736493a 100644
--- a/lib/attention.sh
+++ b/lib/attention.sh
@@ -85,12 +85,12 @@ reconcile_attention() { # $1 item, $2 pr|issue, $3 assignees, $4 suppression
 This pull request carries \`attention\`, but that label is issue-only. Put
 the label on the assigned issue that owns the claim. The sweep cannot infer
 which issue that is, so it reports the malformed target without removing or
-retargeting the label (heavy-duty/ceremony#232)." ;;
+retargeting the label." ;;
     MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED)
       body="$marker
 This issue carries \`attention\` but has no assignee to receive the demand.
 Assign the intended builder or remove the flag. The sweep reports the board
-bug without assigning anyone or changing the label (heavy-duty/ceremony#232)." ;;
+bug without assigning anyone or changing the label." ;;
   esac
   run gh issue comment "$n" -R "$REPO" --body "$body" >/dev/null
   log "#$n: malformed attention ($surface) — commented; no label or assignee changed"
diff --git a/test/attention.test.sh b/test/attention.test.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..410c572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/attention.test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -u
+
+ROOT="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/.." && pwd)"
+# shellcheck source=test/harness.sh
+source "$ROOT/test/harness.sh"
+# shellcheck source=lib/attention.sh
+source "$ROOT/lib/attention.sh"
+
+check "attention on an unassigned PR is malformed" 0 "MALFORMED_PR" \
+  attention_target_decision pr 0
+check "attention on an assigned PR is still malformed" 0 "MALFORMED_PR" \
+  attention_target_decision pr 1
+check "attention on an unassigned issue is malformed" 0 "MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED" \
+  attention_target_decision issue 0
+check "attention on an assigned issue is healthy" 0 "KEEP" \
+  attention_target_decision issue 1
+check "an unknown surface is rejected" 2 "" attention_target_decision discussion 0
+
+check "a malformed PR target is commented" 0 "POST" \
+  attention_comment_decision MALFORMED_PR ""
+check "an unassigned issue target is commented without precedence" 0 "POST" \
+  attention_comment_decision MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED ""
+check "claimed-unassigned precedence suppresses the second comment" 0 "SUPPRESS" \
+  attention_comment_decision MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED claimed-unassigned
+check "post-merge-assigned precedence suppresses the second comment" 0 "SUPPRESS" \
+  attention_comment_decision MALFORMED_UNASSIGNED post-merge-assigned
+check "a healthy target stays silent" 0 "KEEP" \
+  attention_comment_decision KEEP ""
+
+check "the newest labeled event defines the episode" 0 "2026-08-03T12:00:00Z" \
+  attention_newest_flag <<'EOF'
+2026-08-03T10:00:00Z
+2026-08-03T12:00:00Z
+2026-08-03T11:00:00Z
+EOF
+check "the marker names the label episode" 0 \
+  '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:2026-08-03T12:00:00Z -->' \
+  attention_episode_marker 2026-08-03T12:00:00Z
+
+# Diagnosis is the only write this library may own. Pin the absence of every
+# label/assignee mutation spelling so a later refactor cannot quietly turn a
+# report into a repair (#229 D2).
+check "the attention library contains no issue/PR edit mutation" 1 "" \
+  grep -E 'gh (issue|pr) edit|--(add|remove)-(label|assignee)' "$ROOT/lib/attention.sh"
+
+summary
diff --git a/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh b/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh
index e36adda..c89b986 100644
--- a/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh
+++ b/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh
@@ -393,6 +393,93 @@ issue_probe() { # $1 issue, $2 labels, $3 assignees, $4 false|closing|refs, $5 m
 tfix() { printf '%s/repos_owner_repo_issues_%s_timeline.json' "$TMP" "$1"; }
 cfix() { printf '%s/repos_owner_repo_issues_%s_comments.json' "$TMP" "$1"; }
 
+# -- malformed attention targets are diagnosed, never repaired (#232) -------
+attention_episode() { # $1 issue, $2 labeled timestamp
+  jq -n --arg at "$2" \
+    '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"attention"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+    >"$(tfix "$1")"
+  printf '[]\n' >"$(cfix "$1")"
+}
+
+: >"$TMP/issue-edits"
+attention_edits_before="$(wc -l <"$TMP/issue-edits")"
+for n in 61 62 63; do
+  attention_episode "$n" "$(iso_at $((INOW - 60)))"
+done
+# The assignment event is the claim clock's own activity fact. The live issue
+# has since lost its assignee, which is exactly the claimed-unassigned shape.
+jq --arg at "$(iso_at $((INOW - 60)))" \
+  '. + [{"event":"assigned","created_at":$at}]' \
+  "$(tfix 63)" >"$(tfix 63).tmp" && mv "$(tfix 63).tmp" "$(tfix 63)"
+printf '{"state":"open"}\n' >"$TMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_999.json"
+
+issue_probe 61 $'ready\nattention' 0 >/dev/null
+check "unassigned attention under ready is diagnosed once" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$TMP/posted-61"
+
+issue_probe 62 $'blocked\nattention' 0 false "" 'Blocked by #999' >/dev/null
+check "unassigned attention under blocked is diagnosed once" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$TMP/posted-62"
+
+claimed_attention="$(issue_probe 63 $'claimed\nattention' 0)"
+check "claimed-unassigned owns the only board comment" 0 "1" \
+  grep -c -- '^----$' "$TMP/posted-63"
+check "the claimed-unassigned marker, not attention's, was posted" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF '<!-- issueflow:claimed-unassigned -->' "$TMP/posted-63"
+check "the suppressed attention detection remains in the log" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF 'comment suppressed by claimed-unassigned precedence' <<<"$claimed_attention"
+
+attention_episode 64 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 60)))"
+issue_probe 64 $'ready\nattention' 1 >/dev/null
+check "assigned attention under ready is healthy" 1 "" test -f "$TMP/posted-64"
+attention_episode 65 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 60)))"
+issue_probe 65 $'claimed\nattention' 1 true >/dev/null
+check "assigned attention under claimed is healthy" 1 "" test -f "$TMP/posted-65"
+attention_episode 66 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 60)))"
+issue_probe 66 $'blocked\nattention' 1 false "" 'Blocked by #999' >/dev/null
+check "assigned attention under blocked is healthy" 1 "" test -f "$TMP/posted-66"
+
+attention_episode 67 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 60)))"
+post_merge_attention="$(issue_probe 67 $'post-merge\nattention' 0)"
+check "post-merge precedence leaves exactly its existing comment" 0 "1" \
+  grep -c -- '^----$' "$TMP/posted-67"
+check "post-merge's existing diagnostic wins" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF '<!-- issueflow:post-merge-assigned -->' "$TMP/posted-67"
+check "the post-merge suppression remains in the log" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF 'comment suppressed by post-merge-assigned precedence' <<<"$post_merge_attention"
+
+attention_episode 68 "$(iso_at $((INOW - 120)))"
+issue_probe 68 $'ready\nattention' 0 >/dev/null
+issue_probe 68 $'ready\nattention' 0 >/dev/null
+check "two sweeps in one malformed episode post once" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$TMP/posted-68"
+jq --arg at "$(iso_at $((INOW - 30)))" \
+  '. + [{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"attention"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  "$(tfix 68)" >"$(tfix 68).tmp" && mv "$(tfix 68).tmp" "$(tfix 68)"
+issue_probe 68 $'ready\nattention' 0 >/dev/null
+check "a re-set flag creates a second episode comment" 0 "2" \
+  grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$TMP/posted-68"
+check "the two comments carry distinct episode markers" 0 "2" \
+  bash -c 'grep -F "<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:" "$1" | sort -u | wc -l' _ \
+  "$TMP/posted-68"
+
+: >"$(tfix 69).error"
+printf '[]\n' >"$(cfix 69)"
+unreadable_attention="$(issue_probe 69 $'ready\nattention' 0)"
+check "an unreadable attention timeline posts nothing" 1 "" test -f "$TMP/posted-69"
+check "the unreadable fact is visible in the log" 0 "1" \
+  grep -cF 'attention timeline unreadable' <<<"$unreadable_attention"
+
+: >"$TMP/api-calls"
+printf '[]\n' >"$(tfix 70)"
+printf '[]\n' >"$(cfix 70)"
+issue_probe 70 ready 0 >/dev/null
+check "a flag-free issue performs no attention episode read" 1 "" \
+  grep -qF 'repos/owner/repo/issues/70/timeline' "$TMP/api-calls"
+
+check "the attention sweep probes perform no issue edits" 0 "$attention_edits_before" \
+  bash -c 'wc -l <"$1"' _ "$TMP/issue-edits"
+
 # -- the reclaim clock stops under a pending ruling (48h quiet, no PR) -------
 jq -n --arg l "$(iso_at $((INOW - 10 * 86400)))" \
   '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"needs-ruling"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$l},
diff --git a/test/labels-reconcile.test.sh b/test/labels-reconcile.test.sh
index c9ce210..a9a0ac7 100755
--- a/test/labels-reconcile.test.sh
+++ b/test/labels-reconcile.test.sh
@@ -701,19 +701,24 @@ trap 'rm -rf "$RTMP"' EXIT
 iso_at() { date -u -d "@$1" +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ; }
 RNOW=2000000000
 
-ruling_sweep_probe() { # $1 = the PR's labels → reconcile_pr's log lines
+ruling_sweep_probe() { # $1 labels, $2 PR, $3 assignees, $4 requested, $5 activity age days
   (
+    local n="${2:-77}" assignees="${3:-0}" requested="${4:-}"
+    local activity_days="${5:-8}"
+    local assignee_json='[]'
+    [ "$assignees" -eq 0 ] || assignee_json='[{"login":"owner-bot"}]'
     REPO_LABELS="$(printf 'state:addressing\nstate:needs-human\nmerge-next\nstale\nneeds-ruling')"
     REPO=owner/repo NOW="$RNOW"
     LABELS="$1"
-    DRAFT=false HEAD_SHA=head1 REQUESTED=""
+    DRAFT=false HEAD_SHA=head1 REQUESTED="$requested"
     # Approvals submitted 8 days ago — the newest real activity anywhere.
     REVIEWS_JSON="$(reviews \
-      "$(rev "$BOT1" APPROVED head1 "" "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 8 * 86400)))")" \
-      "$(rev "$BOT2" APPROVED head1 "" "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 8 * 86400)))")" \
-      "$(rev "$BOT3" APPROVED head1 "" "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 8 * 86400)))")")"
+      "$(rev "$BOT1" APPROVED head1 "" "$(iso_at $((RNOW - activity_days * 86400)))")" \
+      "$(rev "$BOT2" APPROVED head1 "" "$(iso_at $((RNOW - activity_days * 86400)))")" \
+      "$(rev "$BOT3" APPROVED head1 "" "$(iso_at $((RNOW - activity_days * 86400)))")")"
     MERGEABLE=MERGEABLE CHECKS=SUCCESS
-    PR_JSON="$(jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 10 * 86400)))" '{created_at: $at}')"
+    PR_JSON="$(jq -n --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 10 * 86400)))" \
+      --argjson assignees "$assignee_json" '{created_at: $at, assignees: $assignees}')"
     run() { "$@"; } # mutations reach the stub and are recorded, not swallowed
     gh() {
       if [ "$1" = api ]; then
@@ -728,6 +733,8 @@ ruling_sweep_probe() { # $1 = the PR's labels → reconcile_pr's log lines
           shift
         done
         file="$RTMP/$(printf '%s' "$endpoint" | tr '/' '_').json"
+        printf '%s\n' "$endpoint" >>"$RTMP/api-calls"
+        [ ! -f "$file.error" ] || return 1
         # A missing fixture is an empty collection — projected through the
         # caller's --jq exactly like real gh, so '.[].foo' yields no lines.
         [ -f "$file" ] || { printf '[]\n' | jq -r "${jqexpr:-.}"; return 0; }
@@ -749,7 +756,7 @@ ruling_sweep_probe() { # $1 = the PR's labels → reconcile_pr's log lines
         printf '%s\n' "$*" >>"$RTMP/edits"
       fi
     }
-    reconcile_pr 77 2>&1
+    reconcile_pr "$n" 2>&1
   )
 }
 
@@ -788,6 +795,60 @@ expect "exactly one nudge across both sweeps" \
 expect "no label edit across both sweeps names the ruling flag" \
   no "$(grep -q 'needs-ruling' "$RTMP/edits" 2>/dev/null && echo yes || echo no)"
 
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# The attention pass on the PR surface (#232): every PR target is malformed,
+# assigned or not. The episode marker makes the comment once-per-labeling;
+# every other board mutation remains the ordinary state machine's concern.
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+attention_pr_fixture() { # $1 PR, $2 labeled timestamp
+  jq -n --arg at "$2" \
+    '[{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"attention"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+    >"$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_${1}_timeline.json"
+  printf '[]\n' >"$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_${1}_comments.json"
+}
+
+attention_pr_fixture 78 "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 120)))"
+attention_mutations_before="$(wc -l <"$RTMP/edits")"
+attention_pr="$(ruling_sweep_probe $'attention\nstate:needs-human' 78 0 danmt 1)"
+expect "attention on an unassigned PR is diagnosed" yes \
+  "$(grep -q 'malformed attention (pr)' <<<"$attention_pr" && echo yes || echo no)"
+expect "the PR comment points to the assigned claim issue" yes \
+  "$(grep -qF 'assigned issue that owns the claim' "$RTMP/posted-78" && echo yes || echo no)"
+expect "the PR comment does not guess a target issue number" no \
+  "$(grep -Eq '#[0-9]+' "$RTMP/posted-78" && echo yes || echo no)"
+ruling_sweep_probe $'attention\nstate:needs-human' 78 0 danmt 1 >/dev/null
+expect "two PR sweeps in one attention episode post once" 1 \
+  "$(grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$RTMP/posted-78")"
+jq --arg at "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 30)))" \
+  '. + [{"event":"labeled","label":{"name":"attention"},"actor":{"login":"setter"},"created_at":$at}]' \
+  "$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_78_timeline.json" \
+  >"$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_78_timeline.json.tmp" \
+  && mv "$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_78_timeline.json.tmp" \
+    "$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_78_timeline.json"
+ruling_sweep_probe $'attention\nstate:needs-human' 78 0 danmt 1 >/dev/null
+expect "a re-set PR flag receives a second episode comment" 2 \
+  "$(grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$RTMP/posted-78")"
+
+attention_pr_fixture 79 "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 60)))"
+ruling_sweep_probe $'attention\nstate:needs-human' 79 1 danmt 1 >/dev/null
+expect "attention on an assigned PR is still diagnosed" 1 \
+  "$(grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$RTMP/posted-79")"
+
+attention_pr_fixture 80 "$(iso_at $((RNOW - 60)))"
+: >"$RTMP/repos_owner_repo_issues_80_timeline.json.error"
+unreadable_attention="$(ruling_sweep_probe $'attention\nstate:needs-human' 80 0 danmt 1)"
+expect "an unreadable PR attention timeline posts nothing" no \
+  "$([ -f "$RTMP/posted-80" ] && echo yes || echo no)"
+expect "the unreadable fact is logged without a verdict" yes \
+  "$(grep -qF 'attention timeline unreadable' <<<"$unreadable_attention" && echo yes || echo no)"
+
+: >"$RTMP/api-calls"
+ruling_sweep_probe state:needs-human 81 0 danmt 1 >/dev/null
+expect "a flag-free PR performs no attention timeline read" no \
+  "$(grep -qF 'repos/owner/repo/issues/81/timeline' "$RTMP/api-calls" && echo yes || echo no)"
+expect "attention diagnosis caused no PR mutation" "$attention_mutations_before" \
+  "$(wc -l <"$RTMP/edits")"
+
 # -- the sweep wiring observes the existing per-PR skip without writing -------
 blind_main_probe() {
   (

From 8aa7b12bf9446b63ae4f40279710cf5ec76a25b9 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Andriujose <43181885+andriujoseba@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Aug 2026 19:55:32 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 4/4] test: satisfy CI shellcheck annotations

---
 test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh | 2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)

diff --git a/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh b/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh
index c89b986..3893fe7 100644
--- a/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh
+++ b/test/issueflow-reconcile.test.sh
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ jq --arg at "$(iso_at $((INOW - 30)))" \
 issue_probe 68 $'ready\nattention' 0 >/dev/null
 check "a re-set flag creates a second episode comment" 0 "2" \
   grep -cF '<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:' "$TMP/posted-68"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2016 # positional parameter belongs to the isolated shell
 check "the two comments carry distinct episode markers" 0 "2" \
   bash -c 'grep -F "<!-- ceremony:attention-malformed:" "$1" | sort -u | wc -l' _ \
   "$TMP/posted-68"
@@ -477,6 +478,7 @@ issue_probe 70 ready 0 >/dev/null
 check "a flag-free issue performs no attention episode read" 1 "" \
   grep -qF 'repos/owner/repo/issues/70/timeline' "$TMP/api-calls"
 
+# shellcheck disable=SC2016 # positional parameter belongs to the isolated shell
 check "the attention sweep probes perform no issue edits" 0 "$attention_edits_before" \
   bash -c 'wc -l <"$1"' _ "$TMP/issue-edits"