[claude] Fix cycle-metrics pipeline: seed issue= from queue so retro is never null (#1250) (#1253)

scripts/loop_guard.py

@@ -240,9 +240,33 @@ def compute_backoff(consecutive_idle: int) -> int:
     return min(BACKOFF_BASE * (BACKOFF_MULTIPLIER ** consecutive_idle), BACKOFF_MAX)
 
 
+def seed_cycle_result(item: dict) -> None:
+    """Pre-seed cycle_result.json with the top queue item.
+
+    Only writes if cycle_result.json does not already exist — never overwrites
+    agent-written data.  This ensures cycle_retro.py can always resolve the
+    issue number even when the dispatcher (claude-loop, gemini-loop, etc.) does
+    not write cycle_result.json itself.
+    """
+    if CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.exists():
+        return  # Agent already wrote its own result — leave it alone
+
+    seed = {
+        "issue": item.get("issue"),
+        "type": item.get("type", "unknown"),
+    }
+    try:
+        CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        CYCLE_RESULT_FILE.write_text(json.dumps(seed) + "\n")
+        print(f"[loop-guard] Seeded cycle_result.json with issue #{seed['issue']}")
+    except OSError as exc:
+        print(f"[loop-guard] WARNING: Could not seed cycle_result.json: {exc}")
+
+
 def main() -> int:
     wait_mode = "--wait" in sys.argv
     status_mode = "--status" in sys.argv
+    pick_mode = "--pick" in sys.argv
 
     state = load_idle_state()
 
@@ -269,6 +293,17 @@ def main() -> int:
         state["consecutive_idle"] = 0
         state["last_idle_at"] = 0
         save_idle_state(state)
+
+        # Pre-seed cycle_result.json so cycle_retro.py can resolve issue=
+        # even when the dispatcher doesn't write the file itself.
+        seed_cycle_result(ready[0])
+
+        if pick_mode:
+            # Emit the top issue number to stdout for shell script capture.
+            issue = ready[0].get("issue")
+            if issue is not None:
+                print(issue)
+
         return 0
 
     # Queue empty — apply backoff