v1.93.19.0 fix(receipt): --check-prose skips the Documentation exception line and closed code fences (GST-983, GST-984) (#3884)

* fix(receipt): --check-prose skips the Documentation exception line and closed code fences (GST-983, GST-984)

write --docs with an owner exception requires the PR body to carry the Documentation exception line word for word, and read --check-prose read the owner reason in it as counter claims, the deadlock GST-977 fixed for the Review-loop exception line. Pasted test output and quoted code in fenced blocks were read as receipt counts too (gstack-evals #142). The prose check now skips the exact docs exception line and every closed code fence; a fence that never closes stays prose. Failing-first: the three new cases fail on main d45c3501e.

Co-authored-by: capy-ai[bot] <230910855+capy-ai[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

* fix(receipt): inline triple backticks open no fence, and nothing after an unclosed fence is skipped (GST-984 review)

Co-authored-by: capy-ai[bot] <230910855+capy-ai[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

---------

Co-authored-by: capy-ai[bot] <230910855+capy-ai[bot]@users.noreply.github.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,5 +1,16 @@
 # Changelog
 
+## [1.93.19.0] - 2026-11-02
+
+**`gstack-ship-receipt read --check-prose` no longer reads the Documentation exception line or code fences as counter claims (GST-983, GST-984).** `write --docs` with an owner exception requires the PR body to carry the whole `Documentation exception: …` line word for word, but the prose check read the owner's reason in it as prose, so a reason like "sections 1 and 2 skip the audit" was a `2 skip` claim and no body could pass both checks. That is the deadlock GST-977 fixed for the Review-loop exception line. Separately, on gstack-evals #142, test output pasted in a fenced block ("113 passed, 0 failed") and a quoted code comment ("the first 35 fail") were read as receipt counts and refused.
+
+### Fixed
+- **`lib/ship-receipt-prose.ts`:** the line that matches the receipt's own docs exception exactly is skipped, like the Review-loop exception line. The same words anywhere else, or a line for a different exception, are still checked.
+- **`lib/ship-receipt-prose.ts`:** a closed code fence (backticks or tildes, closed by a run of its own character at least as long as the opener) is skipped. Counts outside the fence are still checked. A line that starts with inline code like ```` ```npm test``` ```` opens no fence, and a fence that never closes stays prose along with the rest of the body, so an unclosed opener cannot hide the claims after it.
+
+### Tests
+- `test/ship-receipt-prose.test.ts`: the docs exception line passes `--check-prose` beside a matching `70 skip` claim; the #142 fenced evidence passes while a wrong count outside the fence still fails; an unclosed fence stays prose; inline triple backticks and a shorter fence inside an unclosed one hide no claim. On main the first three cases failed.
+
 ## [1.93.18.0] - 2026-11-02
 
 **A green Free Tests run at the pregate tree now clears gstack's remote gate, so a slow Ubicloud VM no longer blocks a PR whose CI already passed (GST-1024).** docs/pregate.md described `gstack-pregate clear --remote pregate.json/remote_gate --run <id|url> --allow-repo-commands`, but gstack's own `.gstack/pregate.json` declared no `remote_gate_runs`, so the route always refused. On #3869, every check passed at 3f2bcf3 (Free Tests run 41484634592), while two remote gate runs at the same tree failed on bun timeouts in files the PR doesn't touch.

VERSION

@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.93.18.0
+1.93.19.0

agents-digest/gstack-AGENTS.md

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# gstack digest v1.93.18.0 — regenerate/re-copy after upgrading gstack
+# gstack digest v1.93.19.0 — regenerate/re-copy after upgrading gstack
 
 Behavioral rules from gstack (https://github.com/garrytan/gstack), compressed
 for agent hosts without a full skill install. The full skills add workflows,

docs/ship-policy.md

@@ -1233,13 +1233,17 @@ both values; prose that quotes no counter is not a claim. The `## Approvals`
 block `gstack-approvals` renders (its heading, the Date | Asked | Exact words
 table and the `Source: gstack-approvals record` line) quotes the owner's
 words, not this PR's numbers, so it is skipped: "one Step 11 pass" in that table
-is not a `pass` claim. Text you write under the heading after that block, and
+is not a `pass` claim. Text you write under the heading after that block is
-a `## Approvals` example inside a code fence, are still checked. The
+still checked. The `Review-loop exception: …` line (GST-977) and the
-`Review-loop exception: …` line the receipt's own exception requires is
+`Documentation exception: …` line (GST-983) the receipt's own exceptions
-skipped the same way (GST-977): it quotes the owner's reason, so "outside 1 and
+require are skipped the same way: they quote the owner's reason, so "outside 1
-2 skip detector" is not a `2 skip` claim. Only a line that matches the rendered
+and 2 skip detector" is not a `2 skip` claim. Only a line that matches the
-line exactly is skipped, inside a code fence too, as the receipt check accepts
+rendered line exactly is skipped; the same words inside a longer line are still
-a fenced copy; the same words inside a longer line are still checked. Data PRs (evals,
+checked. A closed code fence is skipped too (GST-984): pasted test output
+("113 pass, 0 fail") and quoted code are evidence, not this PR's counters, so
+put a count you mean as a claim outside the fence. A line like ```` ```npm test``` ran ````
+opens no fence, and a fence that never closes stays prose, along with the rest
+of the body. Data PRs (evals,
 measurements, sweeps) run it before READY so the body's numbers are the run's.
 
 <a id="review-scope"></a>

docs/troubleshooting.md

@@ -5921,8 +5921,9 @@ body that names a counter the receipt records (`passes=3` against
 against `gate.passed: 41`) with a different value. The receipt is written from
 the run; the prose was typed, so a reader of the body would learn a number the
 run did not produce. The `PROSE:` line names each field with both values. The
-`## Approvals` table `gstack-approvals` renders, and the `Review-loop exception: …`
+`## Approvals` table `gstack-approvals` renders, the `Review-loop exception: …`
-line the receipt's exception requires, are never read as claims.
+and `Documentation exception: …` lines the receipt's exceptions require, and
+the inside of a closed code fence are never read as claims.
 
 **Fix.** Correct the body to the receipt's number. When the receipt is the
 stale one (the run was repeated), rerun `/ship` so the receipt is rewritten

lib/ship-receipt-prose.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import { APPROVALS_FOOTER_END, APPROVALS_TABLE_HEADER } from './approval-record';
 import { RECEIPT_FENCE } from './ship-receipt';
 import { parseReviewLoopException, reviewLoopExceptionLine } from './ship-receipt-depth';
+import { docsExceptionLine, parseReceiptDocs } from './ship-receipt-docs';
 
 export interface ProseClaim { field: string; prose: number; receipt: number }
 export interface ProseCheck { checked: number; mismatches: ProseClaim[] }
@@ -29,6 +30,32 @@ export function receiptCounters(receipt: Record<string, unknown>): Map<string, n
 const BLOCK_RE = new RegExp('```' + RECEIPT_FENCE + '[ \\t]*\\r?\\n[\\s\\S]*?\\r?\\n```', 'g');
 const ESCAPE = /[.*+?^${}()|[\]\\]/g;
 const FENCE_OPEN = /^ {0,3}(`{3,}|~{3,})/;
+const fenceClose = (fence: string) => new RegExp(`^ {0,3}${fence[0] === '`' ? '`' : '~'}{${fence.length},}\\s*$`);
+
+/**
+ * The body without its closed code fences (GST-984): pasted test output (`113 pass, 0 fail`) and quoted code
+ * (`the first 35 failing`) are evidence, not this PR's counters. The fence rules are withoutApprovalsBlocks' (a fence
+ * closes only on a run of its own character at least as long as the opener with nothing after it). A backtick run with
+ * another backtick later on its line (```npm test``` inline code) opens no fence, as in CommonMark. A fence that never
+ * closes stays prose, and so does the rest of the body, so an unclosed opener cannot hide the claims after it or let a
+ * shorter fence inside it hide them. A marker line takes each fence's place so the text on either side never joins
+ * into a claim.
+ */
+function withoutFences(body: string): string {
+  const lines = body.split(/(?<=\n)/);
+  const out: string[] = [];
+  for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
+    const line = lines[i]!.replace(/\r?\n$/, '');
+    const open = FENCE_OPEN.exec(line);
+    if (!open || (open[1]![0] === '`' && line.slice(open[0].length).includes('`'))) { out.push(lines[i]!); continue; }
+    const close = fenceClose(open[1]!);
+    const end = lines.findIndex((l, j) => j > i && close.test(l.replace(/\r?\n$/, '')));
+    if (end < 0) return out.join('') + lines.slice(i).join('');
+    out.push('(code fence)\n');
+    i = end;
+  }
+  return out.join('');
+}
 
 /**
  * The body without the `## Approvals` blocks gstack-approvals renders (lib/approval-record.ts renderRecord): the
@@ -55,7 +82,7 @@ function withoutApprovalsBlocks(body: string): string {
   for (let i = 0; i < lines.length; i++) {
     const line = bare(i);
     if (fence !== null) {
-      if (new RegExp(`^ {0,3}${fence[0] === '`' ? '`' : '~'}{${fence.length},}\\s*$`).test(line)) fence = null;
+      if (fenceClose(fence).test(line)) fence = null;
     } else if (FENCE_OPEN.test(line)) fence = FENCE_OPEN.exec(line)![1]!;
     else if (/^ {0,3}## Approvals\s*$/.test(line)) {
       const end = blockEnd(i);
@@ -67,23 +94,26 @@ function withoutApprovalsBlocks(body: string): string {
 }
 
 /**
- * The body without the `Review-loop exception: …` line the receipt's own exception requires (GST-977): write and the
+ * The body without the exception lines the receipt's own exceptions require: the `Review-loop exception: …` line
- * receipt check want it word for word, and it quotes the owner's reason (`outside 1 and 2 skip detector`), not this
+ * (GST-977) and the `Documentation exception: …` line (GST-983). write and the receipt check want each word for word,
- * PR's counters. Only a line whose trimmed text is that rendered line, the test write applies, is left out (a fenced
+ * and each quotes the owner's reason (`outside 1 and 2 skip detector`), not this PR's counters. Only a line whose
- * copy too, as write accepts one); the same words inside a longer line stay prose. A marker line takes its place so
+ * trimmed text is a rendered line, the test write applies, is left out; the same words inside a longer line stay
- * the text on either side never joins into a claim.
+ * prose. A marker line takes its place so the text on either side never joins into a claim.
  */
-function withoutExceptionLine(body: string, exception: unknown): string {
+function withoutExceptionLines(body: string, receipt: Record<string, unknown>): string {
-  if (exception === undefined) return body;
+  const lines = new Set<string>();
-  const parsed = parseReviewLoopException(exception);
+  const loop = receipt.review_loop_exception === undefined ? undefined : parseReviewLoopException(receipt.review_loop_exception);
-  if (!parsed.ok) return body;
+  if (loop?.ok) lines.add(reviewLoopExceptionLine(loop.exception));
-  const line = reviewLoopExceptionLine(parsed.exception);
+  const docs = receipt.docs === undefined ? undefined : parseReceiptDocs(receipt.docs);
-  return body.split(/(?<=\n)/).map(l => (l.trim() === line ? '(review-loop exception line)\n' : l)).join('');
+  const docsLine = docs?.ok ? docsExceptionLine(docs.docs) : null;
+  if (docsLine) lines.add(docsLine);
+  if (!lines.size) return body;
+  return body.split(/(?<=\n)/).map(l => (lines.has(l.trim()) ? '(exception line)\n' : l)).join('');
 }
 
 /**
  * Every `<name>=<n>`, `<name>: <n>` and `<n> <name>` in the prose (the body
- * without its receipt block, its rendered Approvals block and its review-loop exception line), where `<name>` is a counter's leaf key with `_`
+ * without its receipt block, its code fences, its rendered Approvals block and its exception lines), where `<name>` is a counter's leaf key with `_`
  * matched as `_`, space or `-` and not part of a longer word (`3 pass-through`
  * is not a `pass` claim), compared with the receipt. A leaf key shared by
  * several counters (`pass` under every gate lane, `passed` under gate and ci)
@@ -93,7 +123,7 @@ function withoutExceptionLine(body: string, exception: unknown): string {
  * `<n> <name>` claim about the next key (#3513).
  */
 export function checkReceiptProse(receipt: Record<string, unknown>, body: string): ProseCheck {
-  const prose = withoutExceptionLine(withoutApprovalsBlocks(body.replace(BLOCK_RE, '')), receipt.review_loop_exception);
+  const prose = withoutExceptionLines(withoutApprovalsBlocks(withoutFences(body.replace(BLOCK_RE, ''))), receipt);
   const byLeaf = new Map<string, Array<{ field: string; value: number }>>();
   for (const [field, value] of receiptCounters(receipt)) {
     const leaf = field.split('.').at(-1)!;

package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "gstack",
-  "version": "1.93.18",
+  "version": "1.93.19",
   "description": "Garry's Stack — Claude Code skills + fast headless browser. One repo, one install, entire AI engineering workflow.",
   "license": "MIT",
   "type": "module",

test/ship-receipt-prose.test.ts

@@ -142,6 +142,57 @@ describe('the Review-loop exception line (GST-977, gstack-evals #139)', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('the Documentation exception line (GST-983)', () => {
+  const excepted = {
+    ...receipt,
+    gate: { status: 'green', run: '983', unit: { pass: 1181, skip: 70 } },
+    docs: { status: 'blocked', scope: 'docs/', exception: { accepted_by: 'Garry', date: '2026-11-02', via: 'GSTA-36', reason: 'sections 1 and 2 skip the audit' } },
+  };
+  const line = 'Documentation exception: accepted by Garry 2026-11-02 via GSTA-36: sections 1 and 2 skip the audit';
+
+  // Value: protects=a body that carries the docs exception line write requires can also pass --check-prose; fails_when=the
+  //   owner's reason is read as counter claims ("2 skip" against 70); seam=lib/ship-receipt-prose.ts checkReceiptProse
+  test('the exact line the receipt\'s docs exception requires is not prose; the rest of the body still is', () => {
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(excepted, `## Documentation\n\n${line}\n\nGate: 70 skip.\n`)).toEqual({ checked: 1, mismatches: [] });
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(excepted, `  ${line}\r\nGate: 69 skip.`).mismatches).toEqual([{ field: 'gate.unit.skip', prose: 69, receipt: 70 }]);
+  });
+
+  test('the same words anywhere else, a line for a different exception, or a receipt with no exception stay prose', () => {
+    const twoSkip = [{ field: 'gate.unit.skip', prose: 2, receipt: 70 }];
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(excepted, `Note: ${line}`).mismatches).toEqual(twoSkip);
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(excepted, line.replace('GSTA-36', 'GSTA-37')).mismatches).toEqual(twoSkip);
+    expect(checkReceiptProse({ ...excepted, docs: { status: 'current', scope: 'docs/' } }, line).mismatches).toEqual(twoSkip);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('code fences are not prose (GST-984, gstack-evals #142)', () => {
+  const lanes = { ...receipt, gate: { status: 'green', run: '142', passed: 1181, failed: 0, unit: { pass: 1181, fail: 0 } } };
+  const evidence = '```text\n-  // one none trial per band task (the first 35 fail) and one told trial per pilot task.\nr3-drop, r3, r3-sol: 113 passed, 0 failed with the real list\nunit: 113 pass, 0 fail\n```\n';
+
+  // Value: protects=pasted test output and quoted code in a fence never count as this PR's counters; fails_when=the
+  //   fenced "113 passed" or "35 fail" is read against the receipt; seam=lib/ship-receipt-prose.ts checkReceiptProse
+  test('numbers inside a closed fence are skipped; counts outside it are still checked', () => {
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, `Gate: 1181 passed.\n\n${evidence}\nUnit: 1181 pass.\n`)).toEqual({ checked: 2, mismatches: [] });
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, `${evidence}\nUnit: 113 pass.\n`).mismatches).toEqual([{ field: 'gate.unit.pass', prose: 113, receipt: 1181 }]);
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, evidence.replace(/```/g, '~~~~').replace(/~~~~\n$/, '~~~~~\n'))).toEqual({ checked: 0, mismatches: [] });
+  });
+
+  test('a fence closes only on its own run, an unclosed fence stays prose, and the fence still separates the text around it', () => {
+    const short = '````\n113 pass\n```\nstill fenced 113 pass\n````\n';
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, short)).toEqual({ checked: 0, mismatches: [] });
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, 'Intro\n```text\n113 pass\n').mismatches).toEqual([{ field: 'gate.unit.pass', prose: 113, receipt: 1181 }]);
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, 'Shipped 3\n```\nx\n```\npass rates are below.\n')).toEqual({ checked: 0, mismatches: [] });
+  });
+
+  // Value: protects=a line that only looks like a fence opener, or a shorter fence inside an unclosed one, cannot hide a
+  //   claim GitHub shows as prose; fails_when=either shape skips the "113 pass" after it; seam=lib/ship-receipt-prose.ts checkReceiptProse
+  test('inline triple backticks open no fence, and nothing after an unclosed fence is skipped', () => {
+    const wrong = [{ field: 'gate.unit.pass', prose: 113, receipt: 1181 }];
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, '```npm test``` ran.\nUnit: 113 pass.\n\n```text\nlog\n```\n').mismatches).toEqual(wrong);
+    expect(checkReceiptProse(lanes, '````\n```\nUnit: 113 pass.\n```\n').mismatches).toEqual(wrong);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('gstack-ship-receipt read --check-prose', () => {
   const run = (body: string) => {
     const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'receipt-prose-'));