feat(kanban): add specify — auxiliary LLM fleshes out triage tasks (#21435)

* feat(kanban): add `specify` — auxiliary LLM fleshes out triage tasks

The Triage column shipped with a placeholder 'a specifier will flesh
out the spec', but the specifier itself was never built. This wires
it up as a dedicated CLI verb.

`hermes kanban specify <id>` calls the auxiliary LLM (configured under
`auxiliary.triage_specifier`) to expand a rough one-liner into a
concrete spec — tightened title plus a body with Goal / Approach /
Acceptance criteria / Out-of-scope sections — then atomically flips
`status: triage -> todo` and recomputes ready so parent-free tasks
go straight to the dispatcher on the same tick.

Surface:

  hermes kanban specify <task_id>               # single task
  hermes kanban specify --all [--tenant T]      # sweep triage column
  hermes kanban specify ... --author NAME       # audit-comment author
  hermes kanban specify ... --json              # one JSON line per task

Design choices:

  - Parent gating is preserved. specify_triage_task flips to 'todo',
    then recompute_ready promotes to 'ready' only when parents are
    done — same rule as a normal parent-gated todo.
  - No daemon, no background watcher. Every invocation is explicit —
    keeps cost predictable and doesn't fight the dispatcher loop.
  - Response parse is lenient: strict JSON preferred, markdown-fence
    tolerated, raw-body fallback on malformed JSON so the LLM can't
    strand a task in triage.
  - All failure modes (no aux client, API error, task moved out of
    triage mid-call) return SpecifyOutcome(ok=False, reason=...) so
    --all continues past individual failures.

Changes:

  hermes_cli/kanban_db.py    + specify_triage_task()
  hermes_cli/kanban_specify.py  NEW (~220 LOC — prompt, parse, call)
  hermes_cli/kanban.py       + specify subcommand + _cmd_specify
  hermes_cli/config.py       + auxiliary.triage_specifier task slot
  website/docs/user-guide/features/kanban.md  specify + config notes
  website/docs/reference/cli-commands.md      CLI reference entry
  tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_specify_db.py    NEW (10 tests)
  tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_specify.py       NEW (20 tests)

Validation: 30/30 targeted tests pass. E2E: triage task -> specify ->
ends in 'ready' with events [created, specified, promoted] and the
audit comment recorded under the configured author.

* feat(kanban): wire specifier into dashboard and gateway slash

Follow-ups to the initial PR #21435 — closes the two gaps I'd left as
post-merge: dashboard button and first-class gateway surface.

Dashboard (plugins/kanban/dashboard/)
  - POST /tasks/:id/specify  NEW endpoint. Thin wrapper around
    kanban_specify.specify_task(). Returns the CLI outcome shape
    ({ok, task_id, reason, new_title}); ok=false with a human reason
    is a 200, not a 4xx, so the UI can render it inline without
    treating 'no aux client configured' as a crash.
  - Runs sync in FastAPI's threadpool because the LLM call can take
    tens of seconds on reasoning models.
  - Pins HERMES_KANBAN_BOARD around the specify call so the module's
    argless kb.connect() lands on the right board.
  - dist/index.js: doSpecify callback threaded through the drawer →
    TaskDetail → StatusActions prop chain. ✨ Specify button appears
    ONLY when task.status === 'triage' (elsewhere the backend would
    reject anyway — hide the button to keep the action row clean).
    Busy state (Specifying…) + inline success/error banner under the
    button using the response.reason text.
  - dist/style.css: tiny hermes-kanban-msg-ok / -err classes using
    existing --color vars so themes reskin cleanly.

Gateway slash (/kanban specify)
  - Already works via the existing run_slash → build_parser →
    kanban_command pipeline. No code change needed — slash commands
    inherit the argparse tree automatically. Added coverage:
    test_run_slash_specify_end_to_end (create --triage, specify, verify
    promotion + retitle) and test_run_slash_specify_help_is_reachable.

Tests
  - tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py: 3 new tests for the
    REST endpoint — happy path, non-triage rejection as ok=false 200,
    missing aux client as ok=false 200.
  - tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_cli.py: 2 new slash-surface tests.

Docs
  - website/docs/user-guide/features/kanban.md: dashboard action row
    description mentions ✨ Specify + all three surfaces. REST table
    gains /tasks/:id/specify. Slash examples include /kanban specify.

Validation: 340/340 targeted tests pass. E2E via TestClient: create a
triage task over REST → POST /specify with mocked aux client → task
moves to 'ready' column on /board with new title and body applied.

tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_cli.py

@@ -286,3 +286,58 @@ def test_run_slash_reassign_with_reclaim_flag(kanban_home):
     assert "Reassigned" in out, out
     out2 = kc.run_slash(f"show {tid}")
     assert "newbie" in out2
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# /kanban specify — slash surface (same entry point CLI + gateway use)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_run_slash_specify_end_to_end(kanban_home, monkeypatch):
+    """The /kanban specify slash command routes through run_slash, which
+    both the interactive CLI and every gateway platform use. This test
+    covers both surfaces."""
+    from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+    # Create a triage task via the same slash surface.
+    create_out = kc.run_slash("create 'rough idea' --triage")
+    import re
+    m = re.search(r"(t_[a-f0-9]+)", create_out)
+    assert m, f"no task id in: {create_out!r}"
+    tid = m.group(1)
+
+    # Mock the auxiliary client so we don't hit a real provider.
+    resp = MagicMock()
+    resp.choices = [MagicMock()]
+    resp.choices[0].message.content = (
+        '{"title": "Spec: rough idea", "body": "**Goal**\\nShip it."}'
+    )
+    fake_client = MagicMock()
+    fake_client.chat.completions.create = MagicMock(return_value=resp)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        lambda *a, **kw: (fake_client, "test-model"),
+    )
+
+    # Specify via slash.
+    out = kc.run_slash(f"specify {tid}")
+    assert "Specified" in out
+    assert tid in out
+
+    # Task is promoted and retitled.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        task = kb.get_task(conn, tid)
+    assert task.status in {"todo", "ready"}
+    assert task.title == "Spec: rough idea"
+
+
+def test_run_slash_specify_help_is_reachable(kanban_home):
+    """`--help` on a subcommand is handled by argparse itself — it prints
+    to the process stdout and raises SystemExit before run_slash's output
+    redirection is installed, so the returned string is the usage-error
+    sentinel. All we're asserting here is that the subcommand is
+    registered (no "unknown action" error) — the shape of the help text
+    is covered by the direct argparse tests in test_kanban_specify.py."""
+    out = kc.run_slash("specify --help")
+    # Either the usage-error sentinel (stdout swallowed by argparse) or
+    # a real help rendering — both mean the subcommand exists.
+    assert "usage error" in out.lower() or "specify" in out.lower()

tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_specify.py

@@ -0,0 +1,337 @@
+"""Tests for the specifier module + `hermes kanban specify` CLI surface.
+
+The auxiliary LLM client is mocked — these tests don't hit any network or
+real provider. They exercise the prompt plumbing, response parsing, DB
+writes, and CLI flag surface.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import argparse
+import json as jsonlib
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from hermes_cli import kanban as kanban_cli
+from hermes_cli import kanban_db as kb
+from hermes_cli import kanban_specify as spec
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def kanban_home(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+    home.mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(home))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    kb.init_db()
+    return home
+
+
+def _fake_aux_response(content: str):
+    """Build a minimal object shaped like an OpenAI chat.completions result.
+
+    The specifier only reads ``resp.choices[0].message.content``, so we
+    avoid importing the openai SDK and build the tree with MagicMock.
+    """
+    resp = MagicMock()
+    resp.choices = [MagicMock()]
+    resp.choices[0].message.content = content
+    return resp
+
+
+def _mock_client_returning(content: str):
+    client = MagicMock()
+    client.chat.completions.create = MagicMock(return_value=_fake_aux_response(content))
+    return client
+
+
+def _patch_aux_client(content: str, *, model: str = "test-model"):
+    """Patch get_text_auxiliary_client at its source + at the module that
+    imported it lazily inside specify_task. Both patches are needed
+    because kanban_specify imports the function inside the function body.
+    """
+    client = _mock_client_returning(content)
+    return patch(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        return_value=(client, model),
+    ), client
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# JSON extraction helpers
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_extract_json_blob_handles_plain_json():
+    raw = '{"title": "T", "body": "B"}'
+    assert spec._extract_json_blob(raw) == {"title": "T", "body": "B"}
+
+
+def test_extract_json_blob_handles_fenced_json():
+    raw = '```json\n{"title": "T", "body": "B"}\n```'
+    assert spec._extract_json_blob(raw) == {"title": "T", "body": "B"}
+
+
+def test_extract_json_blob_handles_prose_preamble():
+    raw = 'Sure! Here you go:\n{"title": "T", "body": "B"}\nThanks.'
+    assert spec._extract_json_blob(raw) == {"title": "T", "body": "B"}
+
+
+def test_extract_json_blob_returns_none_for_unparseable():
+    assert spec._extract_json_blob("no json here") is None
+    assert spec._extract_json_blob("") is None
+    assert spec._extract_json_blob("{not: valid}") is None
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# specify_task (module-level entry point)
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def test_specify_task_happy_path(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+
+    content = jsonlib.dumps({
+        "title": "Refined rough",
+        "body": "**Goal**\nA concrete goal.",
+    })
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client(content)
+    with p:
+        outcome = spec.specify_task(tid, author="ace")
+
+    assert outcome.ok is True
+    assert outcome.task_id == tid
+    assert outcome.new_title == "Refined rough"
+
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        task = kb.get_task(conn, tid)
+    # Parent-free → recompute_ready promotes to ready.
+    assert task.status == "ready"
+    assert task.title == "Refined rough"
+    assert "**Goal**" in (task.body or "")
+
+
+def test_specify_task_falls_back_to_body_only_on_bad_json(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="keep title", triage=True)
+
+    # Model returned plain markdown, no JSON object.
+    content = "Goal: Do a thing.\nApproach: Steps here."
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client(content)
+    with p:
+        outcome = spec.specify_task(tid)
+
+    assert outcome.ok is True
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        t = kb.get_task(conn, tid)
+    # Title preserved (no JSON with a title key).
+    assert t.title == "keep title"
+    # Body replaced with the raw response.
+    assert "Goal:" in (t.body or "")
+
+
+def test_specify_task_rejects_non_triage_task(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="ready task")
+
+    p, client = _patch_aux_client("unused")
+    with p:
+        outcome = spec.specify_task(tid)
+
+    assert outcome.ok is False
+    assert "not in triage" in outcome.reason
+    # LLM must not be invoked for a non-triage task — fail cheap.
+    assert client.chat.completions.create.call_count == 0
+
+
+def test_specify_task_unknown_id(kanban_home):
+    p, client = _patch_aux_client("unused")
+    with p:
+        outcome = spec.specify_task("t_nope")
+    assert outcome.ok is False
+    assert "unknown task" in outcome.reason
+    assert client.chat.completions.create.call_count == 0
+
+
+def test_specify_task_no_aux_client_configured(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+
+    with patch(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        return_value=(None, ""),
+    ):
+        outcome = spec.specify_task(tid)
+
+    assert outcome.ok is False
+    assert "auxiliary client" in outcome.reason
+    # Task must stay in triage — we never touched it.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "triage"
+
+
+def test_specify_task_llm_api_error_keeps_task_in_triage(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+
+    client = MagicMock()
+    client.chat.completions.create = MagicMock(side_effect=RuntimeError("429 rate limited"))
+    with patch(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        return_value=(client, "test-model"),
+    ):
+        outcome = spec.specify_task(tid)
+
+    assert outcome.ok is False
+    assert "LLM error" in outcome.reason
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "triage"
+
+
+def test_specify_task_empty_llm_response(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client("")
+    with p:
+        outcome = spec.specify_task(tid)
+
+    assert outcome.ok is False
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "triage"
+
+
+def test_list_triage_ids(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        a = kb.create_task(conn, title="a", triage=True)
+        b = kb.create_task(conn, title="b", triage=True, tenant="proj-1")
+        kb.create_task(conn, title="c")  # not triage — excluded
+
+    ids_all = spec.list_triage_ids()
+    assert set(ids_all) == {a, b}
+    ids_tenant = spec.list_triage_ids(tenant="proj-1")
+    assert ids_tenant == [b]
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# CLI wiring — argparse + _cmd_specify
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+def _run_cli(*argv: str) -> int:
+    """Invoke the `hermes kanban …` argparse surface directly."""
+    root = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    subp = root.add_subparsers(dest="cmd")
+    kanban_cli.build_parser(subp)
+    ns = root.parse_args(["kanban", *argv])
+    return kanban_cli.kanban_command(ns)
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_requires_id_or_all(kanban_home, capsys):
+    rc = _run_cli("specify")
+    assert rc == 2
+    err = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "requires a task id or --all" in err
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_rejects_both_id_and_all(kanban_home, capsys):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+    rc = _run_cli("specify", tid, "--all")
+    assert rc == 2
+    err = capsys.readouterr().err
+    assert "either a task id OR --all" in err
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_single_id_success(kanban_home, capsys):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+
+    content = jsonlib.dumps({"title": "clean", "body": "body"})
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client(content)
+    with p:
+        rc = _run_cli("specify", tid)
+    assert rc == 0
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert tid in out
+    assert "→ todo" in out or "-> todo" in out or "→" in out
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_all_success_and_json(kanban_home, capsys):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        a = kb.create_task(conn, title="a", triage=True)
+        b = kb.create_task(conn, title="b", triage=True)
+
+    content = jsonlib.dumps({"title": "spec", "body": "body"})
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client(content)
+    with p:
+        rc = _run_cli("specify", "--all", "--json")
+    assert rc == 0
+    lines = [l for l in capsys.readouterr().out.strip().splitlines() if l]
+    # One JSON object per task + nothing else.
+    assert len(lines) == 2
+    parsed = [jsonlib.loads(l) for l in lines]
+    ids = {row["task_id"] for row in parsed}
+    assert ids == {a, b}
+    assert all(row["ok"] for row in parsed)
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_all_empty_triage_column(kanban_home, capsys):
+    rc = _run_cli("specify", "--all")
+    assert rc == 0
+    assert "No triage tasks" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_all_returns_1_when_every_task_fails(kanban_home, capsys):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        kb.create_task(conn, title="a", triage=True)
+        kb.create_task(conn, title="b", triage=True)
+
+    with patch(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        return_value=(None, ""),  # no aux client → every task fails
+    ):
+        rc = _run_cli("specify", "--all")
+
+    assert rc == 1
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_tenant_filter(kanban_home, capsys):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        outside = kb.create_task(conn, title="outside", triage=True)
+        inside = kb.create_task(
+            conn, title="inside", triage=True, tenant="proj-a",
+        )
+
+    content = jsonlib.dumps({"title": "spec", "body": "body"})
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client(content)
+    with p:
+        rc = _run_cli("specify", "--all", "--tenant", "proj-a", "--json")
+    assert rc == 0
+    lines = [
+        jsonlib.loads(l)
+        for l in capsys.readouterr().out.strip().splitlines()
+        if l
+    ]
+    ids = {row["task_id"] for row in lines}
+    assert ids == {inside}
+
+    # The outside task stays in triage.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, outside).status == "triage"
+        # The inside task was promoted.
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, inside).status in {"todo", "ready"}
+
+
+def test_cli_specify_author_passed_through(kanban_home, capsys):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="rough", triage=True)
+
+    content = jsonlib.dumps({"title": "fresh title", "body": "fresh body"})
+    p, _ = _patch_aux_client(content)
+    with p:
+        rc = _run_cli("specify", tid, "--author", "custom-agent")
+    assert rc == 0
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        comments = kb.list_comments(conn, tid)
+    assert comments and comments[0].author == "custom-agent"

tests/hermes_cli/test_kanban_specify_db.py

@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+"""Tests for kb.specify_triage_task — the DB-layer atomic promotion
+from the triage column to todo. LLM-free by design."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from hermes_cli import kanban_db as kb
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def kanban_home(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """Isolated HERMES_HOME with an empty kanban DB."""
+    home = tmp_path / ".hermes"
+    home.mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.setenv("HERMES_HOME", str(home))
+    monkeypatch.setattr(Path, "home", lambda: tmp_path)
+    kb.init_db()
+    return home
+
+
+def _create_triage(conn, title="rough idea", body=None, assignee=None):
+    return kb.create_task(
+        conn,
+        title=title,
+        body=body,
+        assignee=assignee,
+        triage=True,
+    )
+
+
+def test_specify_promotes_triage_to_todo(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = _create_triage(conn, title="rough idea")
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "triage"
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        ok = kb.specify_triage_task(
+            conn,
+            tid,
+            title="Refined: rough idea",
+            body="**Goal**\nDo the thing.",
+            author="specifier-bot",
+        )
+    assert ok is True
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        task = kb.get_task(conn, tid)
+    # No parents → recompute_ready should have flipped it past todo to ready.
+    assert task.status == "ready"
+    assert task.title == "Refined: rough idea"
+    assert "**Goal**" in (task.body or "")
+
+
+def test_specify_with_open_parent_lands_in_todo_not_ready(kanban_home):
+    # Parent-gated specified tasks must not jump the dispatcher — they go
+    # to todo and wait for parent completion like any other gated task.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        parent = kb.create_task(conn, title="parent work")
+        child = _create_triage(conn, title="child idea")
+        kb.link_tasks(conn, parent, child)
+        # After linking with an open parent, triage status should still be
+        # 'triage' (linking doesn't touch triage tasks).
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, child).status == "triage"
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        ok = kb.specify_triage_task(
+            conn,
+            child,
+            body="full spec",
+            author="specifier",
+        )
+    assert ok is True
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        t = kb.get_task(conn, child)
+    # Parent still open → specified child sits in 'todo', not 'ready'.
+    assert t.status == "todo"
+
+
+def test_specify_refuses_non_triage_task(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = kb.create_task(conn, title="normal task")
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "ready"
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        ok = kb.specify_triage_task(conn, tid, body="won't apply")
+    assert ok is False
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        # Status unchanged.
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status == "ready"
+
+
+def test_specify_returns_false_for_unknown_id(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        ok = kb.specify_triage_task(conn, "t_does_not_exist", body="x")
+    assert ok is False
+
+
+def test_specify_rejects_blank_title(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = _create_triage(conn, title="rough")
+    with kb.connect() as conn, pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        kb.specify_triage_task(conn, tid, title="   ", body="ok")
+
+
+def test_specify_emits_event(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = _create_triage(conn, title="rough")
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        kb.specify_triage_task(
+            conn, tid, title="new", body="b", author="ace"
+        )
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        events = kb.list_events(conn, tid)
+    kinds = [e.kind for e in events]
+    assert "specified" in kinds
+    # The specified event records which fields actually changed as a
+    # JSON payload under task_events.payload.
+    spec_ev = next(e for e in events if e.kind == "specified")
+    assert spec_ev.payload is not None
+    fields = spec_ev.payload.get("changed_fields") or []
+    assert "title" in fields
+    assert "body" in fields
+
+
+def test_specify_records_audit_comment_only_when_author_given(kanban_home):
+    # With author → comment added.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid1 = _create_triage(conn, title="a")
+        kb.specify_triage_task(
+            conn, tid1, title="A-spec", body="b", author="ace"
+        )
+        comments1 = kb.list_comments(conn, tid1)
+    assert len(comments1) == 1
+    assert "Specified" in comments1[0].body
+    assert comments1[0].author == "ace"
+
+    # Without author → no comment (silent).
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid2 = _create_triage(conn, title="b")
+        kb.specify_triage_task(conn, tid2, title="B-spec", body="b")
+        comments2 = kb.list_comments(conn, tid2)
+    assert comments2 == []
+
+
+def test_specify_skips_comment_when_nothing_changed(kanban_home):
+    # Create triage task with title and body already set; pass identical
+    # values to specify. Should promote to todo but skip audit comment.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = _create_triage(conn, title="same", body="same body")
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        ok = kb.specify_triage_task(
+            conn,
+            tid,
+            title="same",
+            body="same body",
+            author="ace",
+        )
+    assert ok is True
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        # Promoted.
+        assert kb.get_task(conn, tid).status in {"todo", "ready"}
+        # No audit comment because neither field changed.
+        assert kb.list_comments(conn, tid) == []
+
+
+def test_specify_with_only_body_preserves_title(kanban_home):
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = _create_triage(conn, title="keep this title")
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        kb.specify_triage_task(conn, tid, body="new body only")
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        t = kb.get_task(conn, tid)
+    assert t.title == "keep this title"
+    assert t.body == "new body only"
+
+
+def test_specify_second_call_noop_false(kanban_home):
+    # Promoting twice must not crash and the second call returns False
+    # because the task is no longer in triage.
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        tid = _create_triage(conn, title="once")
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        assert kb.specify_triage_task(conn, tid, body="spec") is True
+    with kb.connect() as conn:
+        assert kb.specify_triage_task(conn, tid, body="spec again") is False

tests/plugins/test_kanban_dashboard_plugin.py

@@ -1582,3 +1582,104 @@ def test_board_exposes_diagnostics_list_and_summary(client):
     assert task_dict["warnings"] is not None
     assert task_dict["warnings"]["highest_severity"] == "error"
     assert task_dict["diagnostics"][0]["kind"] == "repeated_crashes"
+
+
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+# POST /tasks/:id/specify — triage specifier endpoint
+# ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+
+def _patch_specifier_response(monkeypatch, *, content, model="test-model"):
+    """Helper: install a fake auxiliary client so the specifier endpoint
+    can run without hitting any real provider."""
+    from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+    resp = MagicMock()
+    resp.choices = [MagicMock()]
+    resp.choices[0].message.content = content
+    fake_client = MagicMock()
+    fake_client.chat.completions.create = MagicMock(return_value=resp)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        lambda *a, **kw: (fake_client, model),
+    )
+    return fake_client
+
+
+def test_specify_happy_path(client, monkeypatch):
+    import json as jsonlib
+
+    # Create a triage task.
+    t = client.post(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/tasks",
+        json={"title": "one-liner", "triage": True},
+    ).json()["task"]
+    assert t["status"] == "triage"
+
+    _patch_specifier_response(
+        monkeypatch,
+        content=jsonlib.dumps(
+            {"title": "Polished", "body": "**Goal**\nDo the thing."}
+        ),
+    )
+
+    r = client.post(
+        f"/api/plugins/kanban/tasks/{t['id']}/specify",
+        json={"author": "ui-tester"},
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["ok"] is True
+    assert body["task_id"] == t["id"]
+    assert body["new_title"] == "Polished"
+
+    # Task should have moved off the triage column.
+    detail = client.get(f"/api/plugins/kanban/tasks/{t['id']}").json()["task"]
+    assert detail["status"] in {"todo", "ready"}
+    assert detail["title"] == "Polished"
+    assert "**Goal**" in (detail["body"] or "")
+
+
+def test_specify_non_triage_returns_ok_false_not_http_error(client, monkeypatch):
+    """The endpoint intentionally returns ``{ok: false, reason: ...}`` for
+    "task not in triage" rather than a 4xx — the dashboard renders the
+    reason inline so the user can fix it without a page reload."""
+    # Create a normal (ready) task — not in triage.
+    t = client.post("/api/plugins/kanban/tasks", json={"title": "x"}).json()["task"]
+
+    _patch_specifier_response(monkeypatch, content="unused")
+
+    r = client.post(
+        f"/api/plugins/kanban/tasks/{t['id']}/specify",
+        json={},
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["ok"] is False
+    assert "not in triage" in body["reason"]
+
+
+def test_specify_no_aux_client_surfaces_reason(client, monkeypatch):
+    t = client.post(
+        "/api/plugins/kanban/tasks",
+        json={"title": "rough", "triage": True},
+    ).json()["task"]
+
+    # Simulate "no auxiliary client configured".
+    monkeypatch.setattr(
+        "agent.auxiliary_client.get_text_auxiliary_client",
+        lambda *a, **kw: (None, ""),
+    )
+
+    r = client.post(
+        f"/api/plugins/kanban/tasks/{t['id']}/specify",
+        json={},
+    )
+    assert r.status_code == 200
+    body = r.json()
+    assert body["ok"] is False
+    assert "auxiliary client" in body["reason"]
+
+    # Task must stay in triage — nothing was touched.
+    detail = client.get(f"/api/plugins/kanban/tasks/{t['id']}").json()["task"]
+    assert detail["status"] == "triage"