diff --git a/.github/workflows/autoloop.lock.yml b/.github/workflows/autoloop.lock.yml
index ce21ec84..489ea218 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/autoloop.lock.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/autoloop.lock.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 #   Imports:
 #     - shared/reporting.md
 #
-# gh-aw-metadata: {"schema_version":"v3","frontmatter_hash":"ae0854a9693094d32638babc16d353dc5de46c218ae3d893a9306b0b2a916042","compiler_version":"v0.65.6","strict":true,"agent_id":"copilot"}
+# gh-aw-metadata: {"schema_version":"v3","frontmatter_hash":"4a373c351f80c4a3192abb04ad384f012a37e1fa4edfab3d08dc852deac2cf4f","compiler_version":"v0.65.6","strict":true,"agent_id":"copilot"}
 
 name: "Autoloop"
 "on":
@@ -222,21 +222,21 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           bash ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/create_prompt_first.sh
           {
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF'
           <system>
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/xpia.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/temp_folder_prompt.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/markdown.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/repo_memory_prompt.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/safe_outputs_prompt.md"
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF'
           <safe-output-tools>
           Tools: add_comment(max:7), create_issue(max:2), update_issue(max:3), create_pull_request, add_labels(max:2), remove_labels(max:2), push_to_pull_request_branch, missing_tool, missing_data, noop
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/safe_outputs_create_pull_request.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/safe_outputs_push_to_pr_branch.md"
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF'
           </safe-output-tools>
           <github-context>
           The following GitHub context information is available for this workflow:
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ jobs:
             - **Note**: If a branch you need is not in the list above and is not listed as an additional fetched ref, it has NOT been checked out. For private repositories you cannot fetch it without proper authentication. If the branch is required and not available, exit with an error and ask the user to add it to the `fetch:` option of the `checkout:` configuration (e.g., `fetch: ["refs/pulls/open/*"]` for all open PR refs, or `fetch: ["main", "feature/my-branch"]` for specific branches).
           </github-context>
           
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/github_mcp_tools_with_safeoutputs_prompt.md"
           if [ "$GITHUB_EVENT_NAME" = "issue_comment" ] && [ -n "$GH_AW_IS_PR_COMMENT" ] || [ "$GITHUB_EVENT_NAME" = "pull_request_review_comment" ] || [ "$GITHUB_EVENT_NAME" = "pull_request_review" ]; then
             cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/pr_context_prompt.md"
@@ -277,11 +277,11 @@ jobs:
           if [ "$GITHUB_EVENT_NAME" = "issue_comment" ] && [ -n "$GH_AW_IS_PR_COMMENT" ] || [ "$GITHUB_EVENT_NAME" = "pull_request_review_comment" ] || [ "$GITHUB_EVENT_NAME" = "pull_request_review" ]; then
             cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/pr_context_push_to_pr_branch_guidance.md"
           fi
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF'
           </system>
           {{#runtime-import .github/workflows/shared/reporting.md}}
           {{#runtime-import .github/workflows/autoloop.md}}
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_6cb617c1e46803c0_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_8719c7b9dd3572a2_EOF
           } > "$GH_AW_PROMPT"
       - name: Interpolate variables and render templates
         uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ jobs:
           GITHUB_REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
           GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
         name: Check which programs are due
-        run: "python3 - << 'PYEOF'\nimport os, json, re, glob, sys\nimport urllib.request, urllib.error\nfrom datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta\n\nprograms_dir = \".autoloop/programs\"\nautoloop_dir = \".autoloop/programs\"\ntemplate_file = os.path.join(autoloop_dir, \"example.md\")\n\n# Read program state from repo-memory (persistent git-backed storage)\ngithub_token = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_TOKEN\", \"\")\nrepo = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_REPOSITORY\", \"\")\nforced_program = os.environ.get(\"AUTOLOOP_PROGRAM\", \"\").strip()\n\n# Repo-memory files are cloned to /tmp/gh-aw/repo-memory/{id}/ where {id}\n# is derived from the branch-name configured in the tools section (memory/autoloop → autoloop)\nrepo_memory_dir = \"/tmp/gh-aw/repo-memory/autoloop\"\n\ndef parse_machine_state(content):\n    \"\"\"Parse the ⚙️ Machine State table from a state file. Returns a dict.\"\"\"\n    state = {}\n    m = re.search(r'## ⚙️ Machine State.*?\\n(.*?)(?=\\n## |\\Z)', content, re.DOTALL)\n    if not m:\n        return state\n    section = m.group(0)\n    for row in re.finditer(r'\\|\\s*(.+?)\\s*\\|\\s*(.+?)\\s*\\|', section):\n        raw_key = row.group(1).strip()\n        raw_val = row.group(2).strip()\n        if raw_key.lower() in (\"field\", \"---\", \":---\", \":---:\", \"---:\"):\n            continue\n        key = raw_key.lower().replace(\" \", \"_\")\n        val = None if raw_val in (\"—\", \"-\", \"\") else raw_val\n        state[key] = val\n    # Coerce types\n    for int_field in (\"iteration_count\", \"consecutive_errors\"):\n        if int_field in state:\n            try:\n                state[int_field] = int(state[int_field])\n            except (ValueError, TypeError):\n                state[int_field] = 0\n    if \"paused\" in state:\n        state[\"paused\"] = str(state.get(\"paused\", \"\")).lower() == \"true\"\n    if \"completed\" in state:\n        state[\"completed\"] = str(state.get(\"completed\", \"\")).lower() == \"true\"\n    # recent_statuses: stored as comma-separated words (e.g. \"accepted, rejected, error\")\n    rs_raw = state.get(\"recent_statuses\") or \"\"\n    if rs_raw:\n        state[\"recent_statuses\"] = [s.strip().lower() for s in rs_raw.split(\",\") if s.strip()]\n    else:\n        state[\"recent_statuses\"] = []\n    return state\n\ndef read_program_state(program_name):\n    \"\"\"Read scheduling state from the repo-memory state file.\"\"\"\n    state_file = os.path.join(repo_memory_dir, f\"{program_name}.md\")\n    if not os.path.isfile(state_file):\n        print(f\"  {program_name}: no state file found (first run)\")\n        return {}\n    with open(state_file, encoding=\"utf-8\") as f:\n        content = f.read()\n    return parse_machine_state(content)\n\n# Bootstrap: create autoloop programs directory and template if missing\nif not os.path.isdir(autoloop_dir):\n    os.makedirs(autoloop_dir, exist_ok=True)\n    bt = chr(96)  # backtick — avoid literal backticks that break gh-aw compiler\n    template = \"\\n\".join([\n        \"<!-- AUTOLOOP:UNCONFIGURED -->\",\n        \"<!-- Remove the line above once you have filled in your program. -->\",\n        \"<!-- Autoloop will NOT run until you do. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"# Autoloop Program\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- Rename this file to something meaningful (e.g. training.md, coverage.md).\",\n        \"     The filename (minus .md) becomes the program name used in issues, PRs,\",\n        \"     and slash commands. Want multiple loops? Add more .md files here. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"## Goal\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- Describe what you want to optimize. Be specific about what 'better' means. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"REPLACE THIS with your optimization goal.\",\n        \"\",\n        \"## Target\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- List files Autoloop may modify. Everything else is off-limits. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"Only modify these files:\",\n        f\"- {bt}REPLACE_WITH_FILE{bt} -- (describe what this file does)\",\n        \"\",\n        \"Do NOT modify:\",\n        \"- (list files that must not be touched)\",\n        \"\",\n        \"## Evaluation\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- Provide a command and the metric to extract. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        f\"{bt}{bt}{bt}bash\",\n        \"REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_EVALUATION_COMMAND\",\n        f\"{bt}{bt}{bt}\",\n        \"\",\n        f\"The metric is {bt}REPLACE_WITH_METRIC_NAME{bt}. **Lower/Higher is better.** (pick one)\",\n        \"\",\n    ])\n    with open(template_file, \"w\") as f:\n        f.write(template)\n    # Leave the template unstaged — the agent will create a draft PR with it\n    print(f\"BOOTSTRAPPED: created {template_file} locally (agent will create a draft PR)\")\n\n# Find all program files from all locations:\n# 1. Directory-based programs: .autoloop/programs/<name>/program.md (preferred)\n# 2. Bare markdown programs: .autoloop/programs/<name>.md (simple)\n# 3. Issue-based programs: GitHub issues with the 'autoloop-program' label\nprogram_files = []\nissue_programs = {}  # name -> {issue_number, file}\n\n# Scan .autoloop/programs/ for directory-based programs\nif os.path.isdir(programs_dir):\n    for entry in sorted(os.listdir(programs_dir)):\n        prog_dir = os.path.join(programs_dir, entry)\n        if os.path.isdir(prog_dir):\n            # Look for program.md inside the directory\n            prog_file = os.path.join(prog_dir, \"program.md\")\n            if os.path.isfile(prog_file):\n                program_files.append(prog_file)\n\n# Scan .autoloop/programs/ for bare markdown programs\nbare_programs = sorted(glob.glob(os.path.join(autoloop_dir, \"*.md\")))\nfor pf in bare_programs:\n    program_files.append(pf)\n\n# Scan GitHub issues with the 'autoloop-program' label\nissue_programs_dir = \"/tmp/gh-aw/issue-programs\"\nos.makedirs(issue_programs_dir, exist_ok=True)\ntry:\n    api_url = f\"https://api.github.com/repos/{repo}/issues?labels=autoloop-program&state=open&per_page=100\"\n    req = urllib.request.Request(api_url, headers={\n        \"Authorization\": f\"token {github_token}\",\n        \"Accept\": \"application/vnd.github.v3+json\",\n    })\n    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as resp:\n        issues = json.loads(resp.read().decode())\n    for issue in issues:\n        if issue.get(\"pull_request\"):\n            continue  # skip PRs\n        body = issue.get(\"body\") or \"\"\n        title = issue.get(\"title\") or \"\"\n        number = issue[\"number\"]\n        # Derive program name from issue title: slugify to lowercase with hyphens\n        slug = re.sub(r'[^a-z0-9]+', '-', title.lower()).strip('-')\n        slug = re.sub(r'-+', '-', slug)  # collapse consecutive hyphens\n        if not slug:\n            slug = f\"issue-{number}\"\n        # Avoid slug collisions: if another issue already claimed this slug, append issue number\n        if slug in issue_programs:\n            print(f\"  Warning: slug '{slug}' (issue #{number}) collides with issue #{issue_programs[slug]['issue_number']}, appending issue number\")\n            slug = f\"{slug}-{number}\"\n        # Write issue body to a temp file so the scheduling loop can process it\n        issue_file = os.path.join(issue_programs_dir, f\"{slug}.md\")\n        with open(issue_file, \"w\") as f:\n            f.write(body)\n        program_files.append(issue_file)\n        issue_programs[slug] = {\"issue_number\": number, \"file\": issue_file, \"title\": title}\n        print(f\"  Found issue-based program: '{slug}' (issue #{number})\")\nexcept Exception as e:\n    print(f\"  Warning: could not fetch issue-based programs: {e}\")\n\nif not program_files:\n    # Fallback to single-file locations\n    for path in [\".autoloop/program.md\", \"program.md\"]:\n        if os.path.isfile(path):\n            program_files = [path]\n            break\n\nif not program_files:\n    print(\"NO_PROGRAMS_FOUND\")\n    os.makedirs(\"/tmp/gh-aw\", exist_ok=True)\n    with open(\"/tmp/gh-aw/autoloop.json\", \"w\") as f:\n        json.dump({\"due\": [], \"skipped\": [], \"unconfigured\": [], \"no_programs\": True}, f)\n    sys.exit(0)\n\nos.makedirs(\"/tmp/gh-aw\", exist_ok=True)\nnow = datetime.now(timezone.utc)\ndue = []\nskipped = []\nunconfigured = []\nall_programs = {}  # name -> file path (populated during scanning)\n\n# Schedule string to timedelta\ndef parse_schedule(s):\n    s = s.strip().lower()\n    m = re.match(r\"every\\s+(\\d+)\\s*h\", s)\n    if m:\n        return timedelta(hours=int(m.group(1)))\n    m = re.match(r\"every\\s+(\\d+)\\s*m\", s)\n    if m:\n        return timedelta(minutes=int(m.group(1)))\n    if s == \"daily\":\n        return timedelta(hours=24)\n    if s == \"weekly\":\n        return timedelta(days=7)\n    return None  # No per-program schedule — always due\n\ndef get_program_name(pf):\n    \"\"\"Extract program name from file path.\n    Directory-based: .autoloop/programs/<name>/program.md -> <name>\n    Bare markdown: .autoloop/programs/<name>.md -> <name>\n    Issue-based: /tmp/gh-aw/issue-programs/<name>.md -> <name>\n    \"\"\"\n    if pf.endswith(\"/program.md\"):\n        # Directory-based program: name is the parent directory\n        return os.path.basename(os.path.dirname(pf))\n    else:\n        # Bare markdown or issue-based program: name is the filename without .md\n        return os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(pf))[0]\n\nfor pf in program_files:\n    name = get_program_name(pf)\n    all_programs[name] = pf\n    with open(pf) as f:\n        content = f.read()\n\n    # Check sentinel (skip for issue-based programs which use AUTOLOOP:ISSUE-PROGRAM)\n    if \"<!-- AUTOLOOP:UNCONFIGURED -->\" in content:\n        unconfigured.append(name)\n        continue\n\n    # Check for TODO/REPLACE placeholders\n    if re.search(r'\\bTODO\\b|\\bREPLACE', content):\n        unconfigured.append(name)\n        continue\n\n    # Parse optional YAML frontmatter for schedule and target-metric\n    # Strip leading HTML comments before checking (issue-based programs may have them)\n    content_stripped = re.sub(r'^(\\s*<!--.*?-->\\s*\\n)*', '', content, flags=re.DOTALL)\n    schedule_delta = None\n    target_metric = None\n    fm_match = re.match(r\"^---\\s*\\n(.*?)\\n---\\s*\\n\", content_stripped, re.DOTALL)\n    if fm_match:\n        for line in fm_match.group(1).split(\"\\n\"):\n            if line.strip().startswith(\"schedule:\"):\n                schedule_str = line.split(\":\", 1)[1].strip()\n                schedule_delta = parse_schedule(schedule_str)\n            if line.strip().startswith(\"target-metric:\"):\n                try:\n                    target_metric = float(line.split(\":\", 1)[1].strip())\n                except (ValueError, TypeError):\n                    print(f\"  Warning: {name} has invalid target-metric value: {line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()}\")\n\n    # Read state from repo-memory\n    state = read_program_state(name)\n    if state:\n        print(f\"  {name}: last_run={state.get('last_run')}, iteration_count={state.get('iteration_count')}\")\n    else:\n        print(f\"  {name}: no state found (first run)\")\n\n    last_run = None\n    lr = state.get(\"last_run\")\n    if lr:\n        try:\n            last_run = datetime.fromisoformat(lr.replace(\"Z\", \"+00:00\"))\n        except ValueError:\n            pass\n\n    # Check if completed (target metric was reached)\n    if str(state.get(\"completed\", \"\")).lower() == \"true\":\n        skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": f\"completed: target metric reached\"})\n        continue\n\n    # Check if paused (e.g., plateau or recurring errors)\n    if state.get(\"paused\"):\n        skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": f\"paused: {state.get('pause_reason', 'unknown')}\"})\n        continue\n\n    # Auto-pause on plateau: 5+ consecutive rejections\n    recent = state.get(\"recent_statuses\", [])[-5:]\n    if len(recent) >= 5 and all(s == \"rejected\" for s in recent):\n        skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": \"plateau: 5 consecutive rejections\"})\n        continue\n\n    # Check if due based on per-program schedule\n    if schedule_delta and last_run:\n        if now - last_run < schedule_delta:\n            skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": \"not due yet\",\n                            \"next_due\": (last_run + schedule_delta).isoformat()})\n            continue\n\n    due.append({\"name\": name, \"last_run\": lr, \"file\": pf, \"target_metric\": target_metric})\n\n# Pick the program to run\nselected = None\nselected_file = None\nselected_issue = None\nselected_target_metric = None\ndeferred = []\n\nif forced_program:\n    # Manual dispatch requested a specific program — bypass scheduling\n    # (paused, not-due, and plateau programs can still be forced)\n    if forced_program not in all_programs:\n        print(f\"ERROR: requested program '{forced_program}' not found.\")\n        print(f\"  Available programs: {list(all_programs.keys())}\")\n        sys.exit(1)\n    if forced_program in unconfigured:\n        print(f\"ERROR: requested program '{forced_program}' is unconfigured (has placeholders).\")\n        sys.exit(1)\n    selected = forced_program\n    selected_file = all_programs[forced_program]\n    deferred = [p[\"name\"] for p in due if p[\"name\"] != forced_program]\n    if selected in issue_programs:\n        selected_issue = issue_programs[selected][\"issue_number\"]\n    # Find target_metric: check the due list first, then parse from the program file\n    for p in due:\n        if p[\"name\"] == forced_program:\n            selected_target_metric = p.get(\"target_metric\")\n            break\n    if selected_target_metric is None:\n        # Program may have been skipped (completed/paused/plateau) — parse directly\n        try:\n            with open(selected_file) as _f:\n                _content = _f.read()\n            _content_stripped = re.sub(r'^(\\s*<!--.*?-->\\s*\\n)*', '', _content, flags=re.DOTALL)\n            _fm = re.match(r\"^---\\s*\\n(.*?)\\n---\\s*\\n\", _content_stripped, re.DOTALL)\n            if _fm:\n                for _line in _fm.group(1).split(\"\\n\"):\n                    if _line.strip().startswith(\"target-metric:\"):\n                        selected_target_metric = float(_line.split(\":\", 1)[1].strip())\n                        break\n        except (OSError, ValueError, TypeError):\n            pass\n    print(f\"FORCED: running program '{forced_program}' (manual dispatch)\")\nelif due:\n    # Normal scheduling: pick the single most-overdue program\n    due.sort(key=lambda p: p[\"last_run\"] or \"\")  # None/empty sorts first (never run)\n    selected = due[0][\"name\"]\n    selected_file = due[0][\"file\"]\n    selected_target_metric = due[0].get(\"target_metric\")\n    deferred = [p[\"name\"] for p in due[1:]]\n    # Check if the selected program is issue-based\n    if selected in issue_programs:\n        selected_issue = issue_programs[selected][\"issue_number\"]\n\nresult = {\n    \"selected\": selected,\n    \"selected_file\": selected_file,\n    \"selected_issue\": selected_issue,\n    \"selected_target_metric\": selected_target_metric,\n    \"issue_programs\": {name: info[\"issue_number\"] for name, info in issue_programs.items()},\n    \"deferred\": deferred,\n    \"skipped\": skipped,\n    \"unconfigured\": unconfigured,\n    \"no_programs\": False,\n}\n\nos.makedirs(\"/tmp/gh-aw\", exist_ok=True)\nwith open(\"/tmp/gh-aw/autoloop.json\", \"w\") as f:\n    json.dump(result, f, indent=2)\n\nprint(\"=== Autoloop Program Check ===\")\nprint(f\"Selected program:      {selected or '(none)'} ({selected_file or 'n/a'})\")\nprint(f\"Deferred (next run):   {deferred or '(none)'}\")\nprint(f\"Programs skipped:      {[s['name'] for s in skipped] or '(none)'}\")\nprint(f\"Programs unconfigured: {unconfigured or '(none)'}\")\n\nif not selected and not unconfigured:\n    print(\"\\nNo programs due this run. Exiting early.\")\n    sys.exit(1)  # Non-zero exit skips the agent step\nPYEOF\n"
+        run: "python3 - << 'PYEOF'\nimport os, json, re, glob, sys\nimport urllib.request, urllib.error\nfrom datetime import datetime, timezone, timedelta\n\nprograms_dir = \".autoloop/programs\"\nautoloop_dir = \".autoloop/programs\"\ntemplate_file = os.path.join(autoloop_dir, \"example.md\")\n\n# Read program state from repo-memory (persistent git-backed storage)\ngithub_token = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_TOKEN\", \"\")\nrepo = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_REPOSITORY\", \"\")\nforced_program = os.environ.get(\"AUTOLOOP_PROGRAM\", \"\").strip()\n\n# Repo-memory files are cloned to /tmp/gh-aw/repo-memory/{id}/ where {id}\n# is derived from the branch-name configured in the tools section (memory/autoloop → autoloop)\nrepo_memory_dir = \"/tmp/gh-aw/repo-memory/autoloop\"\n\ndef parse_machine_state(content):\n    \"\"\"Parse the ⚙️ Machine State table from a state file. Returns a dict.\"\"\"\n    state = {}\n    m = re.search(r'## ⚙️ Machine State.*?\\n(.*?)(?=\\n## |\\Z)', content, re.DOTALL)\n    if not m:\n        return state\n    section = m.group(0)\n    for row in re.finditer(r'\\|\\s*(.+?)\\s*\\|\\s*(.+?)\\s*\\|', section):\n        raw_key = row.group(1).strip()\n        raw_val = row.group(2).strip()\n        if raw_key.lower() in (\"field\", \"---\", \":---\", \":---:\", \"---:\"):\n            continue\n        key = raw_key.lower().replace(\" \", \"_\")\n        val = None if raw_val in (\"—\", \"-\", \"\") else raw_val\n        state[key] = val\n    # Coerce types\n    for int_field in (\"iteration_count\", \"consecutive_errors\"):\n        if int_field in state:\n            try:\n                state[int_field] = int(state[int_field])\n            except (ValueError, TypeError):\n                state[int_field] = 0\n    if \"paused\" in state:\n        state[\"paused\"] = str(state.get(\"paused\", \"\")).lower() == \"true\"\n    if \"completed\" in state:\n        state[\"completed\"] = str(state.get(\"completed\", \"\")).lower() == \"true\"\n    # recent_statuses: stored as comma-separated words (e.g. \"accepted, rejected, error\")\n    rs_raw = state.get(\"recent_statuses\") or \"\"\n    if rs_raw:\n        state[\"recent_statuses\"] = [s.strip().lower() for s in rs_raw.split(\",\") if s.strip()]\n    else:\n        state[\"recent_statuses\"] = []\n    return state\n\ndef read_program_state(program_name):\n    \"\"\"Read scheduling state from the repo-memory state file.\"\"\"\n    state_file = os.path.join(repo_memory_dir, f\"{program_name}.md\")\n    if not os.path.isfile(state_file):\n        print(f\"  {program_name}: no state file found (first run)\")\n        return {}\n    with open(state_file, encoding=\"utf-8\") as f:\n        content = f.read()\n    return parse_machine_state(content)\n\n# Bootstrap: create autoloop programs directory and template if missing\nif not os.path.isdir(autoloop_dir):\n    os.makedirs(autoloop_dir, exist_ok=True)\n    bt = chr(96)  # backtick — avoid literal backticks that break gh-aw compiler\n    template = \"\\n\".join([\n        \"<!-- AUTOLOOP:UNCONFIGURED -->\",\n        \"<!-- Remove the line above once you have filled in your program. -->\",\n        \"<!-- Autoloop will NOT run until you do. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"# Autoloop Program\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- Rename this file to something meaningful (e.g. training.md, coverage.md).\",\n        \"     The filename (minus .md) becomes the program name used in issues, PRs,\",\n        \"     and slash commands. Want multiple loops? Add more .md files here. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"## Goal\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- Describe what you want to optimize. Be specific about what 'better' means. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"REPLACE THIS with your optimization goal.\",\n        \"\",\n        \"## Target\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- List files Autoloop may modify. Everything else is off-limits. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        \"Only modify these files:\",\n        f\"- {bt}REPLACE_WITH_FILE{bt} -- (describe what this file does)\",\n        \"\",\n        \"Do NOT modify:\",\n        \"- (list files that must not be touched)\",\n        \"\",\n        \"## Evaluation\",\n        \"\",\n        \"<!-- Provide a command and the metric to extract. -->\",\n        \"\",\n        f\"{bt}{bt}{bt}bash\",\n        \"REPLACE_WITH_YOUR_EVALUATION_COMMAND\",\n        f\"{bt}{bt}{bt}\",\n        \"\",\n        f\"The metric is {bt}REPLACE_WITH_METRIC_NAME{bt}. **Lower/Higher is better.** (pick one)\",\n        \"\",\n    ])\n    with open(template_file, \"w\") as f:\n        f.write(template)\n    # Leave the template unstaged — the agent will create a draft PR with it\n    print(f\"BOOTSTRAPPED: created {template_file} locally (agent will create a draft PR)\")\n\n# Find all program files from all locations:\n# 1. Directory-based programs: .autoloop/programs/<name>/program.md (preferred)\n# 2. Bare markdown programs: .autoloop/programs/<name>.md (simple)\n# 3. Issue-based programs: GitHub issues with the 'autoloop-program' label\nprogram_files = []\nissue_programs = {}  # name -> {issue_number, file}\n\n# Scan .autoloop/programs/ for directory-based programs\nif os.path.isdir(programs_dir):\n    for entry in sorted(os.listdir(programs_dir)):\n        prog_dir = os.path.join(programs_dir, entry)\n        if os.path.isdir(prog_dir):\n            # Look for program.md inside the directory\n            prog_file = os.path.join(prog_dir, \"program.md\")\n            if os.path.isfile(prog_file):\n                program_files.append(prog_file)\n\n# Scan .autoloop/programs/ for bare markdown programs\nbare_programs = sorted(glob.glob(os.path.join(autoloop_dir, \"*.md\")))\nfor pf in bare_programs:\n    program_files.append(pf)\n\n# Scan GitHub issues with the 'autoloop-program' label\nissue_programs_dir = \"/tmp/gh-aw/issue-programs\"\nos.makedirs(issue_programs_dir, exist_ok=True)\ntry:\n    api_url = f\"https://api.github.com/repos/{repo}/issues?labels=autoloop-program&state=open&per_page=100\"\n    req = urllib.request.Request(api_url, headers={\n        \"Authorization\": f\"token {github_token}\",\n        \"Accept\": \"application/vnd.github.v3+json\",\n    })\n    with urllib.request.urlopen(req, timeout=30) as resp:\n        issues = json.loads(resp.read().decode())\n    for issue in issues:\n        if issue.get(\"pull_request\"):\n            continue  # skip PRs\n        body = issue.get(\"body\") or \"\"\n        title = issue.get(\"title\") or \"\"\n        number = issue[\"number\"]\n        # Derive program name from issue title: slugify to lowercase with hyphens\n        slug = re.sub(r'[^a-z0-9]+', '-', title.lower()).strip('-')\n        slug = re.sub(r'-+', '-', slug)  # collapse consecutive hyphens\n        if not slug:\n            slug = f\"issue-{number}\"\n        # Avoid slug collisions: if another issue already claimed this slug, append issue number\n        if slug in issue_programs:\n            print(f\"  Warning: slug '{slug}' (issue #{number}) collides with issue #{issue_programs[slug]['issue_number']}, appending issue number\")\n            slug = f\"{slug}-{number}\"\n        # Write issue body to a temp file so the scheduling loop can process it\n        issue_file = os.path.join(issue_programs_dir, f\"{slug}.md\")\n        with open(issue_file, \"w\") as f:\n            f.write(body)\n        program_files.append(issue_file)\n        issue_programs[slug] = {\"issue_number\": number, \"file\": issue_file, \"title\": title}\n        print(f\"  Found issue-based program: '{slug}' (issue #{number})\")\nexcept Exception as e:\n    print(f\"  Warning: could not fetch issue-based programs: {e}\")\n\nif not program_files:\n    # Fallback to single-file locations\n    for path in [\".autoloop/program.md\", \"program.md\"]:\n        if os.path.isfile(path):\n            program_files = [path]\n            break\n\nif not program_files:\n    print(\"NO_PROGRAMS_FOUND\")\n    os.makedirs(\"/tmp/gh-aw\", exist_ok=True)\n    with open(\"/tmp/gh-aw/autoloop.json\", \"w\") as f:\n        json.dump({\"due\": [], \"skipped\": [], \"unconfigured\": [], \"no_programs\": True}, f)\n    sys.exit(0)\n\nos.makedirs(\"/tmp/gh-aw\", exist_ok=True)\nnow = datetime.now(timezone.utc)\ndue = []\nskipped = []\nunconfigured = []\nall_programs = {}  # name -> file path (populated during scanning)\n\n# Schedule string to timedelta\ndef parse_schedule(s):\n    s = s.strip().lower()\n    m = re.match(r\"every\\s+(\\d+)\\s*h\", s)\n    if m:\n        return timedelta(hours=int(m.group(1)))\n    m = re.match(r\"every\\s+(\\d+)\\s*m\", s)\n    if m:\n        return timedelta(minutes=int(m.group(1)))\n    if s == \"daily\":\n        return timedelta(hours=24)\n    if s == \"weekly\":\n        return timedelta(days=7)\n    return None  # No per-program schedule — always due\n\ndef get_program_name(pf):\n    \"\"\"Extract program name from file path.\n    Directory-based: .autoloop/programs/<name>/program.md -> <name>\n    Bare markdown: .autoloop/programs/<name>.md -> <name>\n    Issue-based: /tmp/gh-aw/issue-programs/<name>.md -> <name>\n    \"\"\"\n    if pf.endswith(\"/program.md\"):\n        # Directory-based program: name is the parent directory\n        return os.path.basename(os.path.dirname(pf))\n    else:\n        # Bare markdown or issue-based program: name is the filename without .md\n        return os.path.splitext(os.path.basename(pf))[0]\n\nfor pf in program_files:\n    name = get_program_name(pf)\n    all_programs[name] = pf\n    with open(pf) as f:\n        content = f.read()\n\n    # Check sentinel (skip for issue-based programs which use AUTOLOOP:ISSUE-PROGRAM)\n    if \"<!-- AUTOLOOP:UNCONFIGURED -->\" in content:\n        unconfigured.append(name)\n        continue\n\n    # Check for TODO/REPLACE placeholders\n    if re.search(r'\\bTODO\\b|\\bREPLACE', content):\n        unconfigured.append(name)\n        continue\n\n    # Parse optional YAML frontmatter for schedule and target-metric\n    # Strip leading HTML comments before checking (issue-based programs may have them)\n    content_stripped = re.sub(r'^(\\s*<!--.*?-->\\s*\\n)*', '', content, flags=re.DOTALL)\n    schedule_delta = None\n    target_metric = None\n    fm_match = re.match(r\"^---\\s*\\n(.*?)\\n---\\s*\\n\", content_stripped, re.DOTALL)\n    if fm_match:\n        for line in fm_match.group(1).split(\"\\n\"):\n            if line.strip().startswith(\"schedule:\"):\n                schedule_str = line.split(\":\", 1)[1].strip()\n                schedule_delta = parse_schedule(schedule_str)\n            if line.strip().startswith(\"target-metric:\"):\n                try:\n                    target_metric = float(line.split(\":\", 1)[1].strip())\n                except (ValueError, TypeError):\n                    print(f\"  Warning: {name} has invalid target-metric value: {line.split(':', 1)[1].strip()}\")\n\n    # Read state from repo-memory\n    state = read_program_state(name)\n    if state:\n        print(f\"  {name}: last_run={state.get('last_run')}, iteration_count={state.get('iteration_count')}\")\n    else:\n        print(f\"  {name}: no state found (first run)\")\n\n    last_run = None\n    lr = state.get(\"last_run\")\n    if lr:\n        try:\n            last_run = datetime.fromisoformat(lr.replace(\"Z\", \"+00:00\"))\n        except ValueError:\n            pass\n\n    # Check if completed (target metric was reached)\n    if str(state.get(\"completed\", \"\")).lower() == \"true\":\n        skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": f\"completed: target metric reached\"})\n        continue\n\n    # Check if paused (e.g., plateau or recurring errors)\n    if state.get(\"paused\"):\n        skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": f\"paused: {state.get('pause_reason', 'unknown')}\"})\n        continue\n\n    # Auto-pause on plateau: 5+ consecutive rejections\n    recent = state.get(\"recent_statuses\", [])[-5:]\n    if len(recent) >= 5 and all(s == \"rejected\" for s in recent):\n        skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": \"plateau: 5 consecutive rejections\"})\n        continue\n\n    # Check if due based on per-program schedule\n    if schedule_delta and last_run:\n        if now - last_run < schedule_delta:\n            skipped.append({\"name\": name, \"reason\": \"not due yet\",\n                            \"next_due\": (last_run + schedule_delta).isoformat()})\n            continue\n\n    due.append({\"name\": name, \"last_run\": lr, \"file\": pf, \"target_metric\": target_metric})\n\n# Pick the program to run\nselected = None\nselected_file = None\nselected_issue = None\nselected_target_metric = None\ndeferred = []\n\nif forced_program:\n    # Manual dispatch requested a specific program — bypass scheduling\n    # (paused, not-due, and plateau programs can still be forced)\n    if forced_program not in all_programs:\n        print(f\"ERROR: requested program '{forced_program}' not found.\")\n        print(f\"  Available programs: {list(all_programs.keys())}\")\n        sys.exit(1)\n    if forced_program in unconfigured:\n        print(f\"ERROR: requested program '{forced_program}' is unconfigured (has placeholders).\")\n        sys.exit(1)\n    selected = forced_program\n    selected_file = all_programs[forced_program]\n    deferred = [p[\"name\"] for p in due if p[\"name\"] != forced_program]\n    if selected in issue_programs:\n        selected_issue = issue_programs[selected][\"issue_number\"]\n    # Find target_metric: check the due list first, then parse from the program file\n    for p in due:\n        if p[\"name\"] == forced_program:\n            selected_target_metric = p.get(\"target_metric\")\n            break\n    if selected_target_metric is None:\n        # Program may have been skipped (completed/paused/plateau) — parse directly\n        try:\n            with open(selected_file) as _f:\n                _content = _f.read()\n            _content_stripped = re.sub(r'^(\\s*<!--.*?-->\\s*\\n)*', '', _content, flags=re.DOTALL)\n            _fm = re.match(r\"^---\\s*\\n(.*?)\\n---\\s*\\n\", _content_stripped, re.DOTALL)\n            if _fm:\n                for _line in _fm.group(1).split(\"\\n\"):\n                    if _line.strip().startswith(\"target-metric:\"):\n                        selected_target_metric = float(_line.split(\":\", 1)[1].strip())\n                        break\n        except (OSError, ValueError, TypeError):\n            pass\n    print(f\"FORCED: running program '{forced_program}' (manual dispatch)\")\nelif due:\n    # Normal scheduling: pick the single most-overdue program\n    due.sort(key=lambda p: p[\"last_run\"] or \"\")  # None/empty sorts first (never run)\n    selected = due[0][\"name\"]\n    selected_file = due[0][\"file\"]\n    selected_target_metric = due[0].get(\"target_metric\")\n    deferred = [p[\"name\"] for p in due[1:]]\n    # Check if the selected program is issue-based\n    if selected in issue_programs:\n        selected_issue = issue_programs[selected][\"issue_number\"]\n\n# Look up existing PR for the selected program's canonical branch\nexisting_pr = None\nhead_branch = None\nif selected:\n    head_branch = f\"autoloop/{selected}\"\n    owner = repo.split(\"/\")[0] if \"/\" in repo else \"\"\n    if owner:\n        try:\n            pr_api_url = (\n                f\"https://api.github.com/repos/{repo}/pulls\"\n                f\"?state=open&head={owner}:{head_branch}&per_page=5\"\n            )\n            pr_req = urllib.request.Request(pr_api_url, headers={\n                \"Authorization\": f\"token {github_token}\",\n                \"Accept\": \"application/vnd.github.v3+json\",\n            })\n            with urllib.request.urlopen(pr_req, timeout=30) as pr_resp:\n                open_prs = json.loads(pr_resp.read().decode())\n            if open_prs:\n                existing_pr = open_prs[0][\"number\"]\n                print(f\"  Found existing PR #{existing_pr} for branch {head_branch}\")\n            else:\n                print(f\"  No existing PR found for branch {head_branch}\")\n        except Exception as e:\n            print(f\"  Warning: could not check for existing PRs: {e}\")\n    else:\n        print(f\"  Warning: could not parse owner from GITHUB_REPOSITORY='{repo}'\")\n\n    # Also check the state file for a recorded PR number as fallback\n    if existing_pr is None:\n        state = read_program_state(selected)\n        pr_field = state.get(\"pr\") or \"\"\n        pr_match = re.match(r'^#?(\\d+)$', pr_field.strip())\n        if pr_match:\n            existing_pr = int(pr_match.group(1))\n            print(f\"  Found PR #{existing_pr} from state file for {selected}\")\n\nresult = {\n    \"selected\": selected,\n    \"selected_file\": selected_file,\n    \"selected_issue\": selected_issue,\n    \"selected_target_metric\": selected_target_metric,\n    \"existing_pr\": existing_pr,\n    \"head_branch\": head_branch,\n    \"issue_programs\": {name: info[\"issue_number\"] for name, info in issue_programs.items()},\n    \"deferred\": deferred,\n    \"skipped\": skipped,\n    \"unconfigured\": unconfigured,\n    \"no_programs\": False,\n}\n\nos.makedirs(\"/tmp/gh-aw\", exist_ok=True)\nwith open(\"/tmp/gh-aw/autoloop.json\", \"w\") as f:\n    json.dump(result, f, indent=2)\n\nprint(\"=== Autoloop Program Check ===\")\nprint(f\"Selected program:      {selected or '(none)'} ({selected_file or 'n/a'})\")\nif existing_pr:\n    print(f\"Existing PR:           #{existing_pr} (branch: {head_branch})\")\nelse:\n    print(f\"Existing PR:           (none — will create on first accepted iteration)\")\nprint(f\"Deferred (next run):   {deferred or '(none)'}\")\nprint(f\"Programs skipped:      {[s['name'] for s in skipped] or '(none)'}\")\nprint(f\"Programs unconfigured: {unconfigured or '(none)'}\")\n\nif not selected and not unconfigured:\n    print(\"\\nNo programs due this run. Exiting early.\")\n    sys.exit(1)  # Non-zero exit skips the agent step\nPYEOF\n"
 
       # Repo memory git-based storage configuration from frontmatter processed below
       - name: Clone repo-memory branch (default)
@@ -498,12 +498,12 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs
           mkdir -p /tmp/gh-aw/safeoutputs
           mkdir -p /tmp/gh-aw/mcp-logs/safeoutputs
-          cat > ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/config.json << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_05418b5b293ba2f8_EOF'
+          cat > ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/config.json << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_02af14f48bc5ba75_EOF'
           {"add_comment":{"hide_older_comments":false,"max":7,"target":"*"},"add_labels":{"max":2,"target":"*"},"create_issue":{"labels":["automation","autoloop"],"max":2,"title_prefix":"[Autoloop] "},"create_pull_request":{"draft":true,"labels":["automation","autoloop"],"max":1,"max_patch_size":1024,"protected_files":["package.json","bun.lockb","bunfig.toml","deno.json","deno.jsonc","deno.lock","global.json","NuGet.Config","Directory.Packages.props","mix.exs","mix.lock","go.mod","go.sum","stack.yaml","stack.yaml.lock","pom.xml","build.gradle","build.gradle.kts","settings.gradle","settings.gradle.kts","gradle.properties","package-lock.json","yarn.lock","pnpm-lock.yaml","npm-shrinkwrap.json","requirements.txt","Pipfile","Pipfile.lock","pyproject.toml","setup.py","setup.cfg","Gemfile","Gemfile.lock","uv.lock","CODEOWNERS"],"protected_files_policy":"fallback-to-issue","protected_path_prefixes":[".github/",".agents/"],"title_prefix":"[Autoloop] "},"missing_data":{},"missing_tool":{},"noop":{"max":1,"report-as-issue":"true"},"push_repo_memory":{"memories":[{"dir":"/tmp/gh-aw/repo-memory/default","id":"default","max_file_count":100,"max_file_size":30720,"max_patch_size":10240}]},"push_to_pull_request_branch":{"if_no_changes":"warn","max":1,"max_patch_size":1024,"protected_files":["package.json","bun.lockb","bunfig.toml","deno.json","deno.jsonc","deno.lock","global.json","NuGet.Config","Directory.Packages.props","mix.exs","mix.lock","go.mod","go.sum","stack.yaml","stack.yaml.lock","pom.xml","build.gradle","build.gradle.kts","settings.gradle","settings.gradle.kts","gradle.properties","package-lock.json","yarn.lock","pnpm-lock.yaml","npm-shrinkwrap.json","requirements.txt","Pipfile","Pipfile.lock","pyproject.toml","setup.py","setup.cfg","Gemfile","Gemfile.lock","uv.lock","CODEOWNERS"],"protected_path_prefixes":[".github/",".agents/"],"target":"*","title_prefix":"[Autoloop] "},"remove_labels":{"max":2,"target":"*"},"update_issue":{"allow_body":true,"max":3,"target":"*","title_prefix":"[Autoloop] "}}
-          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_05418b5b293ba2f8_EOF
+          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_02af14f48bc5ba75_EOF
       - name: Write Safe Outputs Tools
         run: |
-          cat > ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/tools_meta.json << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_META_e9f0c97ff8e4b848_EOF'
+          cat > ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/tools_meta.json << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_META_e09cbb8e5f09e2a3_EOF'
           {
             "description_suffixes": {
               "add_comment": " CONSTRAINTS: Maximum 7 comment(s) can be added. Target: *.",
@@ -517,8 +517,8 @@ jobs:
             "repo_params": {},
             "dynamic_tools": []
           }
-          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_META_e9f0c97ff8e4b848_EOF
-          cat > ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/validation.json << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_VALIDATION_c2504b2536e4b3d6_EOF'
+          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_META_e09cbb8e5f09e2a3_EOF
+          cat > ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/safeoutputs/validation.json << 'GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_VALIDATION_ecaf271fbfb920d8_EOF'
           {
             "add_comment": {
               "defaultMax": 1,
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ jobs:
               "customValidation": "requiresOneOf:status,title,body"
             }
           }
-          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_VALIDATION_c2504b2536e4b3d6_EOF
+          GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_VALIDATION_ecaf271fbfb920d8_EOF
           node ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/generate_safe_outputs_tools.cjs
       - name: Generate Safe Outputs MCP Server Config
         id: safe-outputs-config
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ jobs:
           export MCP_GATEWAY_DOCKER_COMMAND='docker run -i --rm --network host -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -e MCP_GATEWAY_PORT -e MCP_GATEWAY_DOMAIN -e MCP_GATEWAY_API_KEY -e MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_DIR -e MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_SIZE_THRESHOLD -e DEBUG -e MCP_GATEWAY_LOG_DIR -e GH_AW_MCP_LOG_DIR -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_PATH -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_PATH -e GH_AW_ASSETS_BRANCH -e GH_AW_ASSETS_MAX_SIZE_KB -e GH_AW_ASSETS_ALLOWED_EXTS -e DEFAULT_BRANCH -e GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN -e GITHUB_MCP_GUARD_MIN_INTEGRITY -e GITHUB_MCP_GUARD_REPOS -e GITHUB_REPOSITORY -e GITHUB_SERVER_URL -e GITHUB_SHA -e GITHUB_WORKSPACE -e GITHUB_TOKEN -e GITHUB_RUN_ID -e GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER -e GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT -e GITHUB_JOB -e GITHUB_ACTION -e GITHUB_EVENT_NAME -e GITHUB_EVENT_PATH -e GITHUB_ACTOR -e GITHUB_ACTOR_ID -e GITHUB_TRIGGERING_ACTOR -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW_REF -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW_SHA -e GITHUB_REF -e GITHUB_REF_NAME -e GITHUB_REF_TYPE -e GITHUB_HEAD_REF -e GITHUB_BASE_REF -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_PORT -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_API_KEY -v /tmp/gh-aw/mcp-payloads:/tmp/gh-aw/mcp-payloads:rw -v /opt:/opt:ro -v /tmp:/tmp:rw -v '"${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"':'"${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"':rw ghcr.io/github/gh-aw-mcpg:v0.2.11'
           
           mkdir -p /home/runner/.copilot
-          cat << GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_be8a945ee3e28a8b_EOF | bash ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/start_mcp_gateway.sh
+          cat << GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_757354268663f6b1_EOF | bash ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/start_mcp_gateway.sh
           {
             "mcpServers": {
               "github": {
@@ -888,7 +888,7 @@ jobs:
               "payloadDir": "${MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_DIR}"
             }
           }
-          GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_be8a945ee3e28a8b_EOF
+          GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_757354268663f6b1_EOF
       - name: Download activation artifact
         uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/autoloop.md b/.github/workflows/autoloop.md
index f3e796cc..ddc456a7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/autoloop.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/autoloop.md
@@ -431,11 +431,50 @@ steps:
           if selected in issue_programs:
               selected_issue = issue_programs[selected]["issue_number"]
 
+      # Look up existing PR for the selected program's canonical branch
+      existing_pr = None
+      head_branch = None
+      if selected:
+          head_branch = f"autoloop/{selected}"
+          owner = repo.split("/")[0] if "/" in repo else ""
+          if owner:
+              try:
+                  pr_api_url = (
+                      f"https://api.github.com/repos/{repo}/pulls"
+                      f"?state=open&head={owner}:{head_branch}&per_page=5"
+                  )
+                  pr_req = urllib.request.Request(pr_api_url, headers={
+                      "Authorization": f"token {github_token}",
+                      "Accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json",
+                  })
+                  with urllib.request.urlopen(pr_req, timeout=30) as pr_resp:
+                      open_prs = json.loads(pr_resp.read().decode())
+                  if open_prs:
+                      existing_pr = open_prs[0]["number"]
+                      print(f"  Found existing PR #{existing_pr} for branch {head_branch}")
+                  else:
+                      print(f"  No existing PR found for branch {head_branch}")
+              except Exception as e:
+                  print(f"  Warning: could not check for existing PRs: {e}")
+          else:
+              print(f"  Warning: could not parse owner from GITHUB_REPOSITORY='{repo}'")
+
+          # Also check the state file for a recorded PR number as fallback
+          if existing_pr is None:
+              state = read_program_state(selected)
+              pr_field = state.get("pr") or ""
+              pr_match = re.match(r'^#?(\d+)$', pr_field.strip())
+              if pr_match:
+                  existing_pr = int(pr_match.group(1))
+                  print(f"  Found PR #{existing_pr} from state file for {selected}")
+
       result = {
           "selected": selected,
           "selected_file": selected_file,
           "selected_issue": selected_issue,
           "selected_target_metric": selected_target_metric,
+          "existing_pr": existing_pr,
+          "head_branch": head_branch,
           "issue_programs": {name: info["issue_number"] for name, info in issue_programs.items()},
           "deferred": deferred,
           "skipped": skipped,
@@ -449,6 +488,10 @@ steps:
 
       print("=== Autoloop Program Check ===")
       print(f"Selected program:      {selected or '(none)'} ({selected_file or 'n/a'})")
+      if existing_pr:
+          print(f"Existing PR:           #{existing_pr} (branch: {head_branch})")
+      else:
+          print(f"Existing PR:           (none — will create on first accepted iteration)")
       print(f"Deferred (next run):   {deferred or '(none)'}")
       print(f"Programs skipped:      {[s['name'] for s in skipped] or '(none)'}")
       print(f"Programs unconfigured: {unconfigured or '(none)'}")
@@ -538,6 +581,8 @@ The pre-step has already determined which program to run. Read `/tmp/gh-aw/autol
 - **`selected_file`**: The full path to the program's markdown file (either `.autoloop/programs/<name>/program.md`, `.autoloop/programs/<name>.md`, or `/tmp/gh-aw/issue-programs/<name>.md` for issue-based programs).
 - **`selected_issue`**: The GitHub issue number if the selected program came from an issue, or `null` if it came from a file.
 - **`selected_target_metric`**: The `target-metric` value from the program's frontmatter (a number), or `null` if the program is open-ended. Used to check the [halting condition](#halting-condition) after each accepted iteration.
+- **`existing_pr`**: The PR number (e.g., `42`) of an already-open PR for this program's branch, or `null` if no open PR exists. **If this is not null, you MUST use `push-to-pull-request-branch` to push to this PR — do NOT call `create-pull-request`.**
+- **`head_branch`**: The canonical branch name for this program (e.g., `autoloop/coverage`). Always use this exact branch name — never append suffixes.
 - **`issue_programs`**: A mapping of program name → issue number for all discovered issue-based programs.
 - **`deferred`**: Other programs that were due but will be handled in future runs.
 - **`unconfigured`**: Programs that still have the sentinel or placeholder content.
@@ -550,6 +595,7 @@ If `selected` is not null:
 3. Read the current state of all target files.
 4. Read the state file `{selected}.md` from the repo-memory folder for all state: the ⚙️ Machine State table (scheduling fields) plus the research sections (priorities, lessons, foreclosed avenues, iteration history).
 5. If `selected_issue` is not null, this is an issue-based program — also read the issue comments for any human steering input.
+6. **Check `existing_pr`**: if it is not null, a PR already exists — use `push-to-pull-request-branch` to push commits to it. Only call `create-pull-request` when `existing_pr` is null.
 
 ## Multiple Programs
 
@@ -694,7 +740,7 @@ Each run executes **one iteration for the single selected program**:
    
    If the state file does not yet exist, create it in the repo-memory folder using the template defined in the [Repo Memory](#repo-memory) section.
 
-3. Note the `PR` field from the Machine State table. If it contains a PR number (e.g., `#42`), that is the **existing draft PR** for this program — you must update it, not create a new one.
+3. Note the `existing_pr` field from `/tmp/gh-aw/autoloop.json`. If it is not null, that is the **existing draft PR** for this program — you must push to it using `push-to-pull-request-branch`, not create a new one. Also check the `PR` field from the Machine State table as a fallback.
 
 ### Step 2: Analyze and Propose
 
@@ -743,15 +789,15 @@ Each run executes **one iteration for the single selected program**:
    - Commit message body (after a blank line): `Run: {run_url}` referencing the GitHub Actions run URL.
 2. Push the commit to the long-running branch `autoloop/{program-name}`.
 3. **Find the existing PR or create one** — follow these steps in order:
-   a. Check the `PR` field in the state file's **⚙️ Machine State** table. If it contains a PR number (e.g., `#42`), that is the existing draft PR.
-   b. If the state file has no PR number, search GitHub for open PRs with head branch `autoloop/{program-name}`. Use the GitHub API: `GET /repos/{owner}/{repo}/pulls?state=open&head={owner}:autoloop/{program-name}`.
-   c. **If an existing PR is found** (from either step a or b): use `push-to-pull-request-branch` to push additional commits to the existing PR. Update the PR body with the latest metric and a summary of the most recent accepted iteration. Add a comment to the PR summarizing the iteration: what changed, old metric, new metric, improvement delta, and a link to the actions run. **Do NOT call `create-pull-request`.**
-   d. **If NO PR exists** for `autoloop/{program-name}`: create one using `create-pull-request`:
+   a. **First, check `existing_pr` from `/tmp/gh-aw/autoloop.json`.** The pre-step has already looked up the open PR for this program. If `existing_pr` is not null, that is the existing draft PR — skip to step (c).
+   b. If `existing_pr` is null, also check the `PR` field in the state file's **⚙️ Machine State** table as a fallback. If it contains a PR number (e.g., `#42`), verify it is still open via the GitHub API.
+   c. **If an existing PR is found** (from step a or b): use `push-to-pull-request-branch` to push additional commits to the existing PR. Update the PR body with the latest metric and a summary of the most recent accepted iteration. Add a comment to the PR summarizing the iteration: what changed, old metric, new metric, improvement delta, and a link to the actions run. **Do NOT call `create-pull-request`.**
+   d. **If NO PR exists** for `autoloop/{program-name}` (both `existing_pr` is null AND the state file has no PR): create one using `create-pull-request`:
       - Branch: `autoloop/{program-name}` (the branch you already created in Step 3 — do NOT let the framework auto-generate a branch name)
       - Title: `[Autoloop: {program-name}]`
       - Body includes: a summary of the program goal, link to the steering issue, the current best metric, and AI disclosure: `🤖 *This PR is maintained by Autoloop. Each accepted iteration adds a commit to this branch.*`
 
-   > ⚠️ **Never create a new PR if one already exists for `autoloop/{program-name}`.** Each program must have exactly one draft PR at any time. If you are unsure whether a PR exists, check the GitHub API before calling `create-pull-request`.
+   > ⚠️ **Never create a new PR if one already exists for `autoloop/{program-name}`.** Each program must have exactly one draft PR at any time. The pre-step provides `existing_pr` in autoloop.json — always check it first. Only call `create-pull-request` when `existing_pr` is null AND the state file has no PR number.
 4. Ensure the steering issue exists (see [Steering Issue](#steering-issue) below). Add a comment to the steering issue linking to the commit and actions run.
 5. Add an entry to the experiment log issue.
 6. Update the state file `{program-name}.md` in the repo-memory folder:
@@ -790,6 +836,13 @@ Maintain a single open issue **per program** titled `[Autoloop: {program-name}]
 ```markdown
 🤖 *Autoloop — an iterative optimization agent for this repository.*
 
+| | |
+|---|---|
+| **Branch** | [`autoloop/{program-name}`](https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/tree/autoloop/{program-name}) |
+| **Pull Request** | #{pr_number} |
+| **Steering Issue** | #{steering_issue_number} |
+| **State File** | [`{program-name}.md`](https://github.com/{owner}/{repo}/blob/memory/autoloop/{program-name}.md) |
+
 ## Program
 
 **Goal**: {one-line summary from program.md}
@@ -817,6 +870,7 @@ Maintain a single open issue **per program** titled `[Autoloop: {program-name}]
 - Iterations in **reverse chronological order** (newest first).
 - Each iteration heading links to its GitHub Actions run.
 - Use `${{ github.server_url }}/${{ github.repository }}/actions/runs/${{ github.run_id }}` for the current run URL.
+- The **links table at the top** must always show the current branch, PR, steering issue, and state file. Update the PR number when a new PR is created. When creating a continuation issue for a new month, copy the links table from the previous issue.
 - Close the previous month's issue and create a new one at month boundaries.
 - Maximum 50 iterations per issue; create a continuation issue if exceeded.
 
@@ -1148,9 +1202,10 @@ After each iteration, prepend an entry to the **📊 Iteration History** section
 > ❌ **Do NOT create a new branch with a suffix for each iteration.**
 > Correct: `autoloop/coverage`
 > Wrong: `autoloop/coverage-abc123`, `autoloop/coverage-iter42`, `autoloop/coverage-deadbeef1234`
+> Use the `head_branch` field from `autoloop.json` — it is always the canonical name.
 
 > ❌ **Do NOT create a new PR if one already exists for `autoloop/{program-name}`.**
-> Always check the state file's `PR` field and the GitHub API before calling `create-pull-request`. If a PR exists, use `push-to-pull-request-branch` instead.
+> The pre-step provides `existing_pr` in `autoloop.json`. If it is not null, **always** use `push-to-pull-request-branch` — never call `create-pull-request`. Only create a PR when `existing_pr` is null AND the state file has no PR number.
 
 > ❌ **Do NOT let the gh-aw framework auto-generate a branch name when creating a PR.**
 > Always specify the branch explicitly as `autoloop/{program-name}` when calling `create-pull-request`.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync-branches.lock.yml b/.github/workflows/sync-branches.lock.yml
index 0183de8c..78f6887e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync-branches.lock.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync-branches.lock.yml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 # Runs whenever the default branch changes and merges it into all active
 # autoloop/* branches so that program iterations always build on the latest code.
 #
-# gh-aw-metadata: {"schema_version":"v3","frontmatter_hash":"719939a8013705db572524495d231d61b5652aa8fa86506426ccbe84aade70e1","compiler_version":"v0.65.6","strict":true,"agent_id":"copilot"}
+# gh-aw-metadata: {"schema_version":"v3","frontmatter_hash":"42baaebd1818fa54f67dfaadbc42d425fcd44388126d27496222c26a7fcdd745","compiler_version":"v0.65.6","strict":true,"agent_id":"copilot"}
 
 name: "Sync Branches"
 "on":
@@ -133,13 +133,13 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           bash ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/create_prompt_first.sh
           {
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_c6c6ca09724d546c_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6ce21e657f0d715b_EOF'
           <system>
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_c6c6ca09724d546c_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_6ce21e657f0d715b_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/xpia.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/temp_folder_prompt.md"
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/markdown.md"
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_c6c6ca09724d546c_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6ce21e657f0d715b_EOF'
           <github-context>
           The following GitHub context information is available for this workflow:
           {{#if __GH_AW_GITHUB_ACTOR__ }}
@@ -168,12 +168,12 @@ jobs:
           {{/if}}
           </github-context>
           
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_c6c6ca09724d546c_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_6ce21e657f0d715b_EOF
           cat "${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/prompts/github_mcp_tools_prompt.md"
-          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_c6c6ca09724d546c_EOF'
+          cat << 'GH_AW_PROMPT_6ce21e657f0d715b_EOF'
           </system>
           {{#runtime-import .github/workflows/sync-branches.md}}
-          GH_AW_PROMPT_c6c6ca09724d546c_EOF
+          GH_AW_PROMPT_6ce21e657f0d715b_EOF
           } > "$GH_AW_PROMPT"
       - name: Interpolate variables and render templates
         uses: actions/github-script@ed597411d8f924073f98dfc5c65a23a2325f34cd # v8
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ jobs:
           DEFAULT_BRANCH: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
           GITHUB_REPOSITORY: ${{ github.repository }}
         name: Merge default branch into all autoloop program branches
-        run: "python3 - << 'PYEOF'\nimport os, subprocess, sys\n\ntoken = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_TOKEN\", \"\")\nrepo = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_REPOSITORY\", \"\")\ndefault_branch = os.environ.get(\"DEFAULT_BRANCH\", \"main\")\n\n# List all remote branches matching the autoloop/* pattern\nresult = subprocess.run(\n    [\"git\", \"branch\", \"-r\", \"--list\", \"origin/autoloop/*\"],\n    capture_output=True, text=True\n)\nif result.returncode != 0:\n    print(f\"Failed to list remote branches: {result.stderr}\")\n    sys.exit(0)\n\nbranches = [b.strip().replace(\"origin/\", \"\") for b in result.stdout.strip().split(\"\\n\") if b.strip()]\n\nif not branches:\n    print(\"No autoloop/* branches found. Nothing to sync.\")\n    sys.exit(0)\n\nprint(f\"Found {len(branches)} autoloop branch(es) to sync: {branches}\")\n\nfailed = []\nfor branch in branches:\n    print(f\"\\n--- Syncing {branch} with {default_branch} ---\")\n\n    # Fetch both branches\n    subprocess.run([\"git\", \"fetch\", \"origin\", branch], capture_output=True)\n    subprocess.run([\"git\", \"fetch\", \"origin\", default_branch], capture_output=True)\n\n    # Check out the program branch\n    checkout = subprocess.run(\n        [\"git\", \"checkout\", branch],\n        capture_output=True, text=True\n    )\n    if checkout.returncode != 0:\n        # Try creating a local tracking branch\n        checkout = subprocess.run(\n            [\"git\", \"checkout\", \"-b\", branch, f\"origin/{branch}\"],\n            capture_output=True, text=True\n        )\n    if checkout.returncode != 0:\n        print(f\"  Failed to checkout {branch}: {checkout.stderr}\")\n        failed.append(branch)\n        continue\n\n    # Merge the default branch into the program branch\n    merge = subprocess.run(\n        [\"git\", \"merge\", f\"origin/{default_branch}\", \"--no-edit\",\n         \"-m\", f\"Merge {default_branch} into {branch}\"],\n        capture_output=True, text=True\n    )\n    if merge.returncode != 0:\n        print(f\"  Merge conflict or failure for {branch}: {merge.stderr}\")\n        # Abort the merge to leave a clean state\n        subprocess.run([\"git\", \"merge\", \"--abort\"], capture_output=True)\n        failed.append(branch)\n        continue\n\n    # Push the updated branch\n    push = subprocess.run(\n        [\"git\", \"push\", \"origin\", branch],\n        capture_output=True, text=True\n    )\n    if push.returncode != 0:\n        print(f\"  Failed to push {branch}: {push.stderr}\")\n        failed.append(branch)\n        continue\n\n    print(f\"  Successfully synced {branch}\")\n\n# Return to default branch\nsubprocess.run([\"git\", \"checkout\", default_branch], capture_output=True)\n\nif failed:\n    print(f\"\\n⚠️ Failed to sync {len(failed)} branch(es): {failed}\")\n    print(\"These branches may need manual conflict resolution.\")\n    # Don't fail the workflow — log the issue but continue\nelse:\n    print(f\"\\n✅ All {len(branches)} branch(es) synced successfully.\")\nPYEOF\n"
+        run: "python3 - << 'PYEOF'\nimport os, re, subprocess, sys\n\ntoken = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_TOKEN\", \"\")\nrepo = os.environ.get(\"GITHUB_REPOSITORY\", \"\")\ndefault_branch = os.environ.get(\"DEFAULT_BRANCH\", \"main\")\n\n# List all remote branches matching the autoloop/* pattern\nresult = subprocess.run(\n    [\"git\", \"branch\", \"-r\", \"--list\", \"origin/autoloop/*\"],\n    capture_output=True, text=True\n)\nif result.returncode != 0:\n    print(f\"Failed to list remote branches: {result.stderr}\")\n    sys.exit(0)\n\nall_branches = [b.strip().replace(\"origin/\", \"\") for b in result.stdout.strip().split(\"\\n\") if b.strip()]\n\n# Filter to canonical branches only: autoloop/{name} without hash suffixes.\n# Stale branches created by the framework (e.g. autoloop/name-a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8)\n# are skipped — they are not the long-running program branches.\n_hash_suffix = re.compile(r'-[0-9a-f]{16}$')\nbranches = [b for b in all_branches if not _hash_suffix.search(b)]\nskipped_branches = [b for b in all_branches if _hash_suffix.search(b)]\n\nif skipped_branches:\n    print(f\"Skipping {len(skipped_branches)} stale branch(es) with hash suffixes: {skipped_branches}\")\n\nif not branches:\n    print(\"No canonical autoloop/* branches found. Nothing to sync.\")\n    sys.exit(0)\n\nprint(f\"Found {len(branches)} canonical autoloop branch(es) to sync: {branches}\")\n\nfailed = []\nfor branch in branches:\n    print(f\"\\n--- Syncing {branch} with {default_branch} ---\")\n\n    # Fetch both branches\n    subprocess.run([\"git\", \"fetch\", \"origin\", branch], capture_output=True)\n    subprocess.run([\"git\", \"fetch\", \"origin\", default_branch], capture_output=True)\n\n    # Check out the program branch\n    checkout = subprocess.run(\n        [\"git\", \"checkout\", branch],\n        capture_output=True, text=True\n    )\n    if checkout.returncode != 0:\n        # Try creating a local tracking branch\n        checkout = subprocess.run(\n            [\"git\", \"checkout\", \"-b\", branch, f\"origin/{branch}\"],\n            capture_output=True, text=True\n        )\n    if checkout.returncode != 0:\n        print(f\"  Failed to checkout {branch}: {checkout.stderr}\")\n        failed.append(branch)\n        continue\n\n    # Merge the default branch into the program branch\n    merge = subprocess.run(\n        [\"git\", \"merge\", f\"origin/{default_branch}\", \"--no-edit\",\n         \"-m\", f\"Merge {default_branch} into {branch}\"],\n        capture_output=True, text=True\n    )\n    if merge.returncode != 0:\n        print(f\"  Merge conflict or failure for {branch}: {merge.stderr}\")\n        # Abort the merge to leave a clean state\n        subprocess.run([\"git\", \"merge\", \"--abort\"], capture_output=True)\n        failed.append(branch)\n        continue\n\n    # Push the updated branch\n    push = subprocess.run(\n        [\"git\", \"push\", \"origin\", branch],\n        capture_output=True, text=True\n    )\n    if push.returncode != 0:\n        print(f\"  Failed to push {branch}: {push.stderr}\")\n        failed.append(branch)\n        continue\n\n    print(f\"  Successfully synced {branch}\")\n\n# Return to default branch\nsubprocess.run([\"git\", \"checkout\", default_branch], capture_output=True)\n\nif failed:\n    print(f\"\\n⚠️ Failed to sync {len(failed)} branch(es): {failed}\")\n    print(\"These branches may need manual conflict resolution.\")\n    # Don't fail the workflow — log the issue but continue\nelse:\n    print(f\"\\n✅ All {len(branches)} branch(es) synced successfully.\")\nPYEOF\n"
 
       - name: Configure Git credentials
         env:
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ jobs:
           export MCP_GATEWAY_DOCKER_COMMAND='docker run -i --rm --network host -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -e MCP_GATEWAY_PORT -e MCP_GATEWAY_DOMAIN -e MCP_GATEWAY_API_KEY -e MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_DIR -e MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_SIZE_THRESHOLD -e DEBUG -e MCP_GATEWAY_LOG_DIR -e GH_AW_MCP_LOG_DIR -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_CONFIG_PATH -e GH_AW_SAFE_OUTPUTS_TOOLS_PATH -e GH_AW_ASSETS_BRANCH -e GH_AW_ASSETS_MAX_SIZE_KB -e GH_AW_ASSETS_ALLOWED_EXTS -e DEFAULT_BRANCH -e GITHUB_MCP_SERVER_TOKEN -e GITHUB_MCP_GUARD_MIN_INTEGRITY -e GITHUB_MCP_GUARD_REPOS -e GITHUB_REPOSITORY -e GITHUB_SERVER_URL -e GITHUB_SHA -e GITHUB_WORKSPACE -e GITHUB_TOKEN -e GITHUB_RUN_ID -e GITHUB_RUN_NUMBER -e GITHUB_RUN_ATTEMPT -e GITHUB_JOB -e GITHUB_ACTION -e GITHUB_EVENT_NAME -e GITHUB_EVENT_PATH -e GITHUB_ACTOR -e GITHUB_ACTOR_ID -e GITHUB_TRIGGERING_ACTOR -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW_REF -e GITHUB_WORKFLOW_SHA -e GITHUB_REF -e GITHUB_REF_NAME -e GITHUB_REF_TYPE -e GITHUB_HEAD_REF -e GITHUB_BASE_REF -v /tmp/gh-aw/mcp-payloads:/tmp/gh-aw/mcp-payloads:rw -v /opt:/opt:ro -v /tmp:/tmp:rw -v '"${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"':'"${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}"':rw ghcr.io/github/gh-aw-mcpg:v0.2.11'
           
           mkdir -p /home/runner/.copilot
-          cat << GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_f2267ff9994f362a_EOF | bash ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/start_mcp_gateway.sh
+          cat << GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_6e54b48a11cd24bb_EOF | bash ${RUNNER_TEMP}/gh-aw/actions/start_mcp_gateway.sh
           {
             "mcpServers": {
               "github": {
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ jobs:
               "payloadDir": "${MCP_GATEWAY_PAYLOAD_DIR}"
             }
           }
-          GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_f2267ff9994f362a_EOF
+          GH_AW_MCP_CONFIG_6e54b48a11cd24bb_EOF
       - name: Download activation artifact
         uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
         with:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/sync-branches.md b/.github/workflows/sync-branches.md
index d6775100..772e2438 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sync-branches.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/sync-branches.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ steps:
       DEFAULT_BRANCH: ${{ github.event.repository.default_branch }}
     run: |
       python3 - << 'PYEOF'
-      import os, subprocess, sys
+      import os, re, subprocess, sys
 
       token = os.environ.get("GITHUB_TOKEN", "")
       repo = os.environ.get("GITHUB_REPOSITORY", "")
@@ -40,13 +40,23 @@ steps:
           print(f"Failed to list remote branches: {result.stderr}")
           sys.exit(0)
 
-      branches = [b.strip().replace("origin/", "") for b in result.stdout.strip().split("\n") if b.strip()]
+      all_branches = [b.strip().replace("origin/", "") for b in result.stdout.strip().split("\n") if b.strip()]
+
+      # Filter to canonical branches only: autoloop/{name} without hash suffixes.
+      # Stale branches created by the framework (e.g. autoloop/name-a1b2c3d4e5f6g7h8)
+      # are skipped — they are not the long-running program branches.
+      _hash_suffix = re.compile(r'-[0-9a-f]{16}$')
+      branches = [b for b in all_branches if not _hash_suffix.search(b)]
+      skipped_branches = [b for b in all_branches if _hash_suffix.search(b)]
+
+      if skipped_branches:
+          print(f"Skipping {len(skipped_branches)} stale branch(es) with hash suffixes: {skipped_branches}")
 
       if not branches:
-          print("No autoloop/* branches found. Nothing to sync.")
+          print("No canonical autoloop/* branches found. Nothing to sync.")
           sys.exit(0)
 
-      print(f"Found {len(branches)} autoloop branch(es) to sync: {branches}")
+      print(f"Found {len(branches)} canonical autoloop branch(es) to sync: {branches}")
 
       failed = []
       for branch in branches: