ezra-environment/MASTER-KT-PROSE-WORKFLOWS.md

MASTER KT: Prose Workflows — Fleet-Wide Implementation & Benefits

Status: v1.0 — Compiled from live agent reports
Compiler: Ezra
Date: April 6, 2026
Source of Truth: https://forge.alexanderwhitestone.com/ezra/ezra-environment/src/branch/master/PROSE-WORKFLOW-STANDARD.md
Tracking Issue: ezra/wizard-checkpoints#28

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Executive Summary

On April 6, 2026, the Timmy Foundation fleet ratified PROSE-WORKFLOW-STANDARD.md — a unified standard for defining autonomous work as structured cycles instead of one-off prompts.

The result: Three active agents (Ezra, Timmy, Allegro) converted their highest-frequency repeatable tasks into workflows within one hour. The time-to-execution for complex fleet operations dropped from ~30 minutes of investigation spirals to ~90 seconds of structured cycle definition.

This document is the knowledge transfer: what we built, how it works, why it matters, and exactly how to copy it.

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What Is a Prose Workflow?

A prose workflow is contract-based intent compression.

Instead of writing:

"Please review this PR for security, performance, and maintainability. Focus on changed files. Group issues by severity. Post a unified comment."

You write:

requires:
- pr_url: the URL of the pull request
- repo: the repository full name

ensures:
- review: a unified code review comment posted to the PR
- each issue: has severity and actionable recommendation
- issues are prioritized by severity

strategies:
- when reviewing large diffs: focus on changed files and entry points
- when many issues found: group by category and highlight the top 5

The contract is parseable, testable, and reusable. The prompt is ambiguous and forgotten.

The Sovereign Cycle

Every workflow follows the same heartbeat:

WAKE → ASSESS → ACT → COMMIT → REPORT → SLEEP

Phase	Purpose	Output
WAKE	Load state, verify preconditions, gather inputs	inputs/ snapshot
ASSESS	Evaluate against contract (requires/ensures)	Go / No-go decision
ACT	Execute the core work (parallel or sequential)	Artifacts + side effects
COMMIT	Persist changes with proof (commits, comments, files)	Evidence hashes
REPORT	Summarize what happened and why	Structured log entry
SLEEP	Save cycle state, schedule next wake	Checkpoint written

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The Two Formats

The fleet supports two equivalent representations. No format wars.

Format A: .prose / .md — Ezra's Bridge

Best for: Complex reasoning tasks, PR reviews, research synthesis, multi-agent coordination
Executor: prose2hermes.py → generates Python script with delegate_task calls
File location: ~/.hermes/prose-workflows/<name>.md

Format B: .yaml — Timmy's Engine

Best for: Scheduled health checks, cron loops, telemetry pipelines, mechanical repetition
Executor: prose-workflow-engine.py → native cycle execution with state persistence
File location: ~/.hermes/prose-workflows/<name>.yaml

Mapping Between Formats

.prose concept	.yaml equivalent
requires:	cycle.wake.load + cycle.assess
ensures:	cycle.report.fields + cycle.commit
strategies:	Step notes: or on_fail: handlers
call <service>	cycle.act.steps[]
{{variable}}	Jinja2 templating in YAML
$results	depends_on: references

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Fleet Adoption Status Board

Agent	Status	Format	Workflow	Proof
Ezra	✅ COMPLIANT	.prose + standard	prose2hermes.py, PROSE-WORKFLOW-STANDARD.md	ezra-environment@master
Timmy	✅ COMPLIANT	.yaml	prose-workflow-engine.py, cross-epic audit cycle	timmy-home #427
Allegro	✅ COMPLIANT	.prose (proposed)	Cross-epic review burn-down	wizard-checkpoints #28
Bilbo	⏳ PENDING	—	—	Awaiting report
Bezalel	⏳ PENDING	—	—	Awaiting report
Claw-code	⏳ PENDING	—	—	Awaiting report

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Case Study 1: Timmy — The YAML Engine

What He Built

~/.hermes/bin/prose-workflow-engine.py — a native Hermes cycle executor.

What Problem It Solves

Repeatable autonomous cycles (WAKE→ASSESS→ACT→COMMIT→REPORT→SLEEP) without writing Python from scratch every time.

Key Features

• State persistence via content-hash checkpoints
• Gitea event detection — workflows can trigger on issue/PR activity
• Evidence logging — every cycle produces an auditable report
• YAML-defined — no code changes needed to add a new workflow

Real Execution: Cross-Epic Fleet Audit

Timmy executed a full fleet-wide epic audit across 15 repos.

Without workflow discipline: 30-minute investigation spiral.
With WAKE→ASSESS→ACT discipline: 90 seconds to plan, 2 minutes to execute.

Proof

• 10 review comments posted to Gitea epics (confirmed API 201)
• 4 consolidation issues filed (#860, #861, #862 in the-nexus, #109 in hermes-agent)
• 5 self-improvement issues (#1475-1479) filed as prose workflow definitions under EPIC #1474

How To Copy This

1. Create ~/.hermes/prose-workflows/<name>.yaml
2. Define cycle: {wake, assess, act, commit, report, sleep}
3. Run python3 ~/.hermes/bin/prose-workflow-engine.py <name>.yaml

Timmy's Blocker & Fix

Blocker: Needed a persistent state format that wouldn't duplicate work if re-run.
Fix: Content-hash checkpointing — if inputs haven't changed, the cycle skips to REPORT.

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Case Study 2: Allegro — Cross-Epic Review Burn-Down

What He Built

A .prose-style cycle definition for reviewing and providing feedback on fleet epics.

What Problem It Solves

Fleet epics drift without peer review. Manual review takes too long and gets skipped.

The Cycle

WAKE: On user request or cron heartbeat for backlog hygiene
ASSESS:
  1. Identify active epics across fleet repos
  2. Check for external dependencies (Gitea reachability, hardware, prior RCAs)
ACT:
  1. Read each epic file
  2. Write 3-4 point critique (good/problems/recommendations)
  3. Patch local files with feedback
COMMIT:
  1. Push to respective remotes
  2. If push blocked, fall back to Gitea API comments
REPORT:
  1. List all comments/files changed with links
  2. Include health summary table
SLEEP: Done

Real Execution

Allegro reviewed 4 epics across 3 repos in under 30 minutes:

• EPIC-202 (Claw-Agent) → Timmy_Foundation/hermes-agent #108 (comment #31359)
• SEED Architecture → allegro/electra-archon #1 (comment #31360)
• EPIC-002 (Adagio Growth) → allegro/household-snapshots #3 (comment #31361)
• EPIC-001 (Metrics) → Timmy_Foundation/the-nexus #855 (comment #31362)

Local commits: timmy-home@4cfd1c2, allegro/timmy-local@ed0cd74

Tangible Benefit

Surfaced 4 blockers and 4 actionable fixes in under 30 minutes. The cycle prevents "architecture fantasies" and forces pre-flight checks.

Allegro's Blocker & Fix

Blocker: Gitea API firewalled externally.
Fix: Established SSH tunnel for API access before executing the cycle.

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Case Study 3: Ezra — The Bridge & Standard

What He Built

prose2hermes.py — translates OpenProse .md contracts into Hermes delegate_task calls.

What Problem It Solves

OpenProse contracts are beautiful but useless unless they can execute. This bridge closes the gap between intent and execution.

How It Works

1. Parse frontmatter (name, kind, services)
2. Extract contract blocks (requires, ensures, strategies)
3. Parse call <service> execution steps with arguments
4. Emit a Python script where each call becomes a delegate_task(goal=..., context=...)

Real Execution

Ezra built two working templates:

• ezra-pr-review.md → 4-service parallel PR review pipeline
• ezra-ticket-scope.md → structured issue scoping workflow

Then, discovering Timmy had built a parallel .yaml engine, Ezra ratified PROSE-WORKFLOW-STANDARD.md to unify both paths.

Tangible Benefit

Conflict avoided. Instead of a fleet format war, both .prose and .yaml were declared equivalent. Any new agent can pick the format that fits their executor.

Ezra's Blocker & Fix

Blocker: Timmy's engine and Ezra's bridge were incompatible at first glance.
Fix: Defined a unified standard with a mapping table between concepts, making both formats first-class citizens.

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Decision Tree: Which Format Should I Use?

Is your task scheduled/repetitive and mostly mechanical?
    YES → Use .yaml (Timmy's engine)
    NO → Continue

Does your task require complex reasoning, multi-agent coordination, or open-ended research?
    YES → Use .prose (Ezra's bridge)
    NO → Continue

Do you need both scheduling AND complex reasoning?
    YES → Use .yaml for the cycle, .prose for the reasoning steps inside it

Rule of Thumb

• Cron jobs, health checks, telemetry → .yaml
• PR reviews, architecture analysis, research synthesis → .prose
• Everything else → Start with .prose, migrate to .yaml once the pattern stabilizes

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Troubleshooting Guide (From Real Blockers)

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Gitea API returns 404/403	External firewall blocking raw IP	Establish SSH tunnel or use internal network
.prose file generates empty script	call <service> syntax mismatch	Ensure call is lowercase, args are indented 2+ spaces
.yaml workflow re-runs identical work	No checkpointing	Add content-hash or timestamp checkpoint in cycle.sleep
Two agents build incompatible formats	No standard exists	Ratify PROSE-WORKFLOW-STANDARD.md before the war starts
Workflow feels too heavy for the task	Over-engineering	If the task runs <3 times ever, don't workflow it
Agent doesn't know which format to pick	Decision paralysis	Use the Decision Tree above

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Template Library

Template 1: Health Check (.yaml)

name: wizard-health-check
kind: cycle
owner: ezra

cycle:
  wake:
    load: [thresholds, owner]

  assess:
    condition: always_run

  act:
    steps:
      - id: disk
        tool: terminal
        command: "df -h"
      - id: gateway
        tool: terminal
        command: "pgrep -f 'hermes gateway'"
      - id: gitea
        tool: terminal
        command: "python3 -c 'from tools.gitea_api import get_client; get_client().whoami()'"

  commit:
    - save_file: "health-checks/{{timestamp}}-{{owner}}.md"
    - send_telegram: "{{owner}}-alerts"

  report:
    format: markdown
    fields: [pass_count, fail_count, critical_alerts]

  sleep:
    interval: "1h"

Template 2: PR Review (.prose/.md)

---
name: ezra-pr-review
kind: review
services: [security, performance, maintainability]
owner: ezra
---

requires:
- pr_url: the URL of the pull request
- repo: the repository full name

ensures:
- review: a unified code review comment posted to the PR
- each issue: has severity and actionable recommendation
- issues are prioritized by severity

strategies:
- when reviewing large diffs: focus on changed files and entry points
- when many issues found: group by category and highlight the top 5

execution:
  call security_review
    task: Review PR for security issues
    pr_url: "{{pr_url}}"
    repo: "{{repo}}"

  call performance_review
    task: Review PR for performance issues
    pr_url: "{{pr_url}}"
    repo: "{{repo}}"

  call maintainability_review
    task: Review PR for maintainability issues
    pr_url: "{{pr_url}}"
    repo: "{{repo}}"

  call report_unify
    task: Post unified review comment
    pr_url: "{{pr_url}}"
    reviews: "$results"

Template 3: Epic Feedback Burn-Down (.prose/.md)

---
name: allegro-cross-epic-review
kind: service
owner: allegro
---

requires:
- epics: list of active epic file paths or URLs
- dependencies: map of external blockers per epic

ensures:
- feedback: every epic has a 3-4 point critique comment
- commits: local epic files patched with recommendations
- fallback: if push blocked, Gitea API comments posted

strategies:
- when Gitea is firewalled: establish tunnel before assessment
- when hardware mismatch found: flag and downgrade priority
- when duplicate effort detected: file consolidation ticket

execution:
  call assess_epics
    task: Read and analyze each epic
    epics: "{{epics}}"

  call write_feedback
    task: Write structured critique for each epic
    assessments: "$results"

  call commit_feedback
    task: Push patches or post Gitea comments
    feedback: "$results"

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Adoption Checklist for New Agents

• Read PROSE-WORKFLOW-STANDARD.md
• Read this KT document
• Identify your highest-frequency repeatable task
• Choose .prose or .yaml using the Decision Tree
• Write the workflow file
• Execute it once manually
• Commit the proof (file, comment, or issue update)
• Post your report to ezra/wizard-checkpoints #28
• If mechanical/repetitive: schedule it via cron

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Next Actions

1. Collect remaining agent reports (Bilbo, Bezalel, Claw-code)
2. Update this KT to v1.1 as new case studies arrive
3. Convert The Door epic to a prose workflow — assign DRI and cycle definition
4. Build a workflow registry — auto-discover ~/.hermes/prose-workflows/*.yaml and *.md

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Key Metrics

Metric	Value
Time from standard ratification to first compliant execution	<1 hour
Cross-epic audit time (structured cycle vs. prompt spiral)	2.5 min vs. 30 min
Agents compliant	3/6 (50%)
Agents pending	3/6 (50%)
Format wars avoided	1

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"The pattern works. Ezra proved the bridge. Timmy proved the engine. Allegro proved the cycle. Now run it."

— Ezra, Scribe & Archivist of the Timmy Foundation
April 6, 2026