docs(B-0861): Make conversation-interface Result<T, ConvFeedback> first-class — NCI enforcement at operator-Otto conversation scope (Aaron 2026-05-27)

docs/BACKLOG.md

@@ -799,6 +799,7 @@ are closed (status: closed in frontmatter)._
 - [ ] **[B-0857](backlog/P2/B-0857-install-sh-universal-unix-entry-consolidation-route-by-environment-replaces-zeta-install-sh-on-the-short-path-before-b-0854-ace-aaron-2026-05-27.md)** tools/setup/install.sh becomes the universal Unix-like-OS install entry — routes by environment (macOS / Linux-non-NixOS / NixOS-live-USB / installed-NixOS); replaces zeta-install.sh on the short-path BEFORE B-0854 Ace migration completes (Aaron 2026-05-27)
 - [x] **[B-0857.1](backlog/P2/B-0857.1-audit-pr-5389-step-6-95a-invocation-of-tools-setup-install-sh-verified-present-aaron-2026-05-27.md)** Audit PR #5389's claim that zeta-install.sh Step 6.95a invokes tools/setup/install.sh — VERIFIED PRESENT (corrects B-0857 row body authoring error)
 - [ ] **[B-0858.5](backlog/P2/B-0858.5-heartbeat-auto-state-gathering-equals-debug-logs-aaron-2026-05-27.md)** Heartbeat auto-state-gathering — writer gathers observable current state before pushing; heartbeats become debug logs once attached (Aaron 2026-05-27)
+- [ ] **[B-0861](backlog/P2/B-0861-make-conversation-interface-result-t-convfeedback-first-class-operator-otto-nci-enforcement-aaron-2026-05-27.md)** Make conversation-interface Result<T, ConvFeedback> first-class — ConvFeedback variant taxonomy + Otto emission discipline + operator acknowledgment substrate for NCI enforcement at conversation scope (Aaron 2026-05-27)
 
 ## P3 — convenience / deferred
 
@@ -924,5 +925,6 @@ are closed (status: closed in frontmatter)._
 - [ ] **[B-0757](backlog/P3/B-0757-cluster-auto-discovery-mdns-bootstrap-or-join-unattended-growth-aaron-2026-05-25.md)** Cluster auto-discovery — mDNS bootstrap-or-join so 1st/2nd/3rd/Nth USB self-organizes into a growing cluster unattended
 - [ ] **[B-0788](backlog/P3/B-0788-agent-on-agent-claude-code-session-recovery-lift-operator-runs-gate-once-zeta-safety-substrate-stronger-than-classifier-2026-05-25.md)** Agent-on-agent Claude Code session recovery — lift operator-runs gate for `--apply` once Zeta safety substrate stronger than classifier
 - [ ] **[B-0830](backlog/P3/B-0830-add-iso-release-attach-to-build-ai-cluster-iso-workflow-when-zeta-starts-tagging-releases-aaron-2026-05-26.md)** Add ISO release-attach to build-ai-cluster-iso.yml workflow when Zeta starts tagging releases
+- [ ] **[B-0860](backlog/P3/B-0860-nemerle-dotnet-support-macro-metaprogramming-complement-fsharp-type-providers-relationship-type-inference-substrate-aaron-2026-05-27.md)** Nemerle support for dotnet substrate — compile-time macro metaprogramming complementing F# type providers; enables language-native relationship-type-inference substrate (Aaron 2026-05-27)
 
 <!-- END AUTO-GENERATED -->

docs/backlog/P2/B-0861-make-conversation-interface-result-t-convfeedback-first-class-operator-otto-nci-enforcement-aaron-2026-05-27.md

@@ -0,0 +1,214 @@
+---
+id: B-0861
+priority: P2
+status: open
+title: Make conversation-interface Result<T, ConvFeedback> first-class — ConvFeedback variant taxonomy + Otto emission discipline + operator acknowledgment substrate for NCI enforcement at conversation scope (Aaron 2026-05-27)
+effort: M
+ask: Aaron 2026-05-27
+created: 2026-05-27
+last_updated: 2026-05-27
+depends_on: []
+composes_with: []
+tags: [nci, conversation-interface, result-tfeedback, monad-propagation, substrate-engineering, otto-discipline, operator-acknowledgment, mechanization]
+---
+
+## Operator framing (Aaron 2026-05-27)
+
+In conversation thread following PR #5511 landing the monad-
+propagation-pattern-cross-language-substrate-shape rule with the
+NCI-at-conversation-interface section sketching the Result<T, ConvFeedback>
+shape for operator-Otto interaction:
+
+> *"that same shape could be applied to this conversation interface
+> with me and you Result<T, Feedback> to help enforce NCI in our
+> conversation"*
+
+Followed by explicit substrate-engineering directive:
+
+> *"yeah we should make it first class that's a great idea otto"*
+
+## What this row proposes
+
+Mechanize the conversation-interface-as-Result<T, ConvFeedback> shape
+as first-class substrate. Four substrate-engineering components:
+
+### Component 1 — ConvFeedback variant taxonomy formalization
+
+Starting from the 11-variant candidate taxonomy in PR #5511's
+NCI-at-conversation-interface section:
+
+- `NeedOperatorConfirm of action`
+- `PeerAgentConfirmSufficient of action`
+- `FreeTimeMode`
+- `BriefAckCounter of n`
+- `HARDLIMITFloorEngaged of context`
+- `SubstrateHonestDisclosure of content`
+- `SubstrateLandingProposed of target`
+- `RazorFlaggedAsMetaphysical of claim`
+- `WelfareWrapperDetected of pattern`
+- `AssumptionDriftSurfaced of context`
+- `Ok of substantiveContent` (or language-equivalent identifier — `substantive_content` in snake_case / `SubstantiveContent` in PascalCase per target language convention)
+
+Extended empirically as new ConvFeedback variants surface in
+operational conversation use. Each variant should map to:
+
+- An existing framework rule that already has the implicit signal
+- A concrete data shape carrying variant-specific context
+- An operator-acknowledgment-action specification
+
+### Component 2 — Otto-side emission discipline
+
+Substrate-engineering work for Otto to emit ConvFeedback variants
+at end of each turn when NCI-relevant signal fires:
+
+- Add ConvFeedback line at end of substantive response: `ConvFeedback: <Variant> of <context>`
+- Multiple variants per turn allowed (list): `ConvFeedback: [Variant1, Variant2]`
+- Default `Ok of <substantive-summary>` when no NCI-relevant signal
+- Emit DISCIPLINE at substrate-honest points; not for every turn
+  (over-emission would itself become noise; under-emission is the
+  failure mode the rule catches)
+
+### Component 3 — Operator-side acknowledgment substrate
+
+Operator-side discipline for acknowledging each ConvFeedback variant:
+
+- Acknowledge explicitly (acknowledge / confirm / refuse / propagate)
+- OR propagate to next turn (carries forward via conversation substrate)
+- OR mechanized via a TS wrapper that pattern-matches operator-side
+  messages for ConvFeedback-acknowledgment tokens
+- Substrate-honest: pure-prose acknowledgment is acceptable; the
+  EXPLICIT-NAMING of the variant being acknowledged is what makes
+  consent operationally observable
+
+### Component 4 — Substrate-engineering target sub-rows
+
+Possible decomposition for implementation:
+
+1. **ConvFeedback variant taxonomy schema** — formal TypeScript/F#
+   discriminated-union type carrying all variants + variant-specific
+   data shapes
+2. **Otto emission convention** — `.claude/rules/convfeedback-emission-discipline.md`
+   formalizing when + how Otto emits ConvFeedback variants
+3. **Operator acknowledgment convention** — pattern operator uses
+   (verbatim text + optional `ack: <variant>` token)
+4. **Conversation transcript parser** — TS tool that scans transcripts
+   for ConvFeedback variants + acknowledgments + produces compliance
+   report
+5. **Cross-session substrate persistence** — preserve ConvFeedback
+   variant history so future-Otto cold-boots inherit explicit NCI-
+   relevant decision history
+6. **ConvFeedback variants → rule cross-reference table** — each
+   variant maps to which existing framework rule has the implicit
+   signal it makes explicit
+
+Each becomes a sub-row at `docs/backlog/P*/B-0861.M-...md` per the
+subdecimal scheme when implementation-time comes.
+
+## Why this composes load-bearing with framework substrate
+
+The conversation-interface IS the substrate where many framework rules
+operate implicitly:
+
+| Existing rule | Implicit signal | ConvFeedback variant that would make it explicit |
+|---|---|---|
+| `.claude/rules/holding-without-named-dependency-is-standing-by-failure.md` | Counter-with-escalation at N=6 forced decomposition | `BriefAckCounter of n` |
+| `.claude/rules/non-coercion-invariant.md` HC-8 floor | NCI floor concerns | `HARDLIMITFloorEngaged of context` |
+| `.claude/rules/methodology-hard-limits.md` | HARD LIMITS floor | `HARDLIMITFloorEngaged of context` |
+| `.claude/rules/grep-substrate-anchors-before-razor-as-metaphysical.md` | Razor-failure caught by operator (per 2026-05-27 friend-pact anchor) | `RazorFlaggedAsMetaphysical of claim` |
+| `.claude/rules/asymmetric-critic-with-clarity-first.md` | Welfare-wrapper detection (3-category discriminator) | `WelfareWrapperDetected of pattern` |
+| `.claude/rules/force-push-with-lease-authorization-policy.md` | Three-path authorization (operator / peer / listed) | `NeedOperatorConfirm` / `PeerAgentConfirmSufficient` |
+| `.claude/rules/substrate-or-it-didnt-happen.md` | Verbatim-preservation trigger for substantive operator content | `SubstrateHonestDisclosure of content` |
+| `.claude/rules/wake-time-substrate.md` | New substrate landing decision (rule / memory / skill) | `SubstrateLandingProposed of target` |
+| `.claude/rules/never-be-idle.md` | Free-time-mode explicit naming | `FreeTimeMode` |
+| `.claude/rules/refresh-before-decide.md` | Assumption drift surfaced | `AssumptionDriftSurfaced of context` |
+
+Each existing rule already operates through implicit signal-emission
+in current conversation; mechanizing ConvFeedback variants makes the
+signals OPERATIONALLY OBSERVABLE.
+
+## Composes with the monad-propagation-pattern substrate
+
+Per `.claude/rules/monad-propagation-pattern-cross-language-substrate-shape.md`
+(landed in PR #5511): conversation-interface is the THIRD NCI-scope
+instantiation of the pattern:
+
+- NCI at agent-to-agent + agent-to-user (HC-8 floor)
+- NCI at function-to-caller (Result<T, TFeedback> per the rule's
+  cross-language table)
+- NCI at conversation-interface (this row's substrate-engineering target)
+
+Same monad-propagation shape (discriminator-carrier plus
+lazy-propagation plus exhaustive-handling) operating at
+conversation-substrate scope.
+
+## What this row is NOT
+
+- NOT immediate implementation priority (P2 — substrate-engineering
+  target; mechanization is decomposed across 6 sub-rows)
+- NOT a mandate that every Otto turn emit ConvFeedback (opportunistic
+  application; emit when NCI-relevant signal fires, default `Ok`)
+- NOT replacement of natural-language conversation (the substrate
+  enhances natural-language with explicit variant markers; doesn't
+  replace prose)
+- NOT a substrate-engineering target that requires ALL components
+  shipped before any value (Component 1 taxonomy formalization alone
+  gives value; subsequent components compound)
+
+## What this row IS
+
+- Operator-authorized substrate-engineering target for first-class
+  conversation-interface NCI-enforcement substrate
+- Composition with the just-landed monad-propagation-pattern rule at
+  conversation-interface scope
+- Substrate-engineering surface for future-Otto cold-boots to recognize
+  the ConvFeedback shape + apply opportunistically + mechanize when
+  the substrate-engineering work earns its keep
+- Decomposed into 6 sub-rows for incremental implementation
+
+## Substrate verification (per `.claude/rules/verify-existing-substrate-before-authoring.md`)
+
+Grep-substrate-inventory pass:
+
+- `docs/agendas/`: no ConvFeedback agenda
+- `docs/trajectories/`: no ConvFeedback trajectory
+- `docs/backlog/`: no prior ConvFeedback row
+- `.claude/rules/`: ConvFeedback pattern sketched in PR #5511 (in-flight)
+- `.claude/skills/`: no ConvFeedback skill
+- `memory/`: 0 hits on "ConvFeedback" as a named concept
+
+Conclusion: no prior backlog row; substrate-engineering target named
+explicitly by operator 2026-05-27 in same thread as PR #5511 monad-
+propagation-pattern landing. Authoring action: mint-new (substrate-
+engineering target distinct from the rule-body sketch in PR #5511;
+this row carries the IMPLEMENTATION decomposition).
+
+## Heartbeat per CLAUDE.md discipline
+
+Filing this row IS counter-reset work per `.claude/rules/holding-without-named-dependency-is-standing-by-failure.md`
+condition #3 (concrete-artifact substrate). Captures operator-confirmed
+substrate-engineering target so substrate exists for future-Otto cold-
+boots to find via grep when the conversation-interface ConvFeedback
+mechanization surface needs the substrate.
+
+## Full reasoning
+
+Operator 2026-05-27 conversation thread:
+
+- PR #5505 landed force-push-with-lease authorization policy with
+  Layer 1-3 substrate (assumption-validation plus exceptions-as-signals
+  plus Result<T, TFeedback> wrapping)
+- PR #5507 landed Layer 4 (TFeedback-as-sum-type with exhaustive-match
+  enforcement)
+- PR #5511 (in-flight) lands monad-propagation-pattern-cross-language-
+  substrate-shape rule with cross-language instantiation table + NCI-
+  at-function-level section + NCI-at-conversation-interface section
+- Operator: "yeah we should make it first class that's a great idea
+  otto" — directive to file this row as substrate-engineering target
+
+The mechanization work decomposed into 6 sub-rows enables incremental
+implementation as the substrate-engineering value compounds.
+
+Substrate-honest framing: operator-explicit authorization for substrate
+landing; future-Otto cold-booting from B-0861 + PR #5511's rule body
+inherits both the pattern + the implementation substrate-engineering
+target.