fix: refresh delegation doctor proof surface on current base

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor
+
+Turn Hermes delegation from an assumed capability into a provable readiness surface.
+
+## Outcome
+narrow week-one claim: confirm the live delegation-readiness gap, then replace it with one canonical audit-to-fix path that ends in a successful delegated run.
+
+## Who this is for
+- Hermes operators
+- AI builders using subagents for parallel work
+- anyone who loses leverage because delegation looks available until it silently fails
+
+## Current live wedge
+The original wedge was a stubbed delegation readiness check. That gap is now closed in live code:
+- `tools/delegate_tool.py` now implements `check_delegate_requirements()` via a real config-aware readiness check
+- `hermes_cli/doctor.py` now exposes a canonical `◆ Delegation Readiness` section
+
+This starter kit now packages the proof line, not just the kickoff gap, so the ship claim stays honest after implementation lands.
+
+## Canonical proof path
+1. treat `scripts/verify-current-gap.sh` as the historical kickoff verifier for the original stubbed-check gap
+2. run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor` and confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` reports the live state
+3. run `scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh` to prove blocked → ready from an isolated temporary `HERMES_HOME`
+4. run one real `delegate_task` proof from the live ready environment
+5. freeze the ship/package decision in a durable artifact
+
+## Folder layout
+- `scripts/verify-current-gap.sh` — current-gap verifier that writes a durable report
+- `scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh` — isolated blocked→ready doctor roundtrip proof that leaves the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` untouched
+- `artifacts/latest-current-gap-report.md` — most recent proof packet emitted by the gap verifier
+- `artifacts/latest-broken-state-roundtrip.md` — canonical blocked-state proof packet with before/after doctor output
+
+## Fast start
+From the Hermes repo root:
+
+```bash
+python -m hermes_cli.main doctor
+bash starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh
+```
+
+Historical kickoff verifier:
+
+```bash
+bash starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/verify-current-gap.sh
+```
+
+Expected results right now:
+- `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor` includes `◆ Delegation Readiness`
+- the roundtrip verifier exits successfully, writes a timestamped markdown report under `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/`, and prints `BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED`
+- the historical gap verifier now exits non-zero because the original unconditional-stub gap is no longer present
+
+That failure is honest evidence that the MVP moved past the kickoff gap and should now be judged on the readiness + roundtrip + delegated-run proof line.
+
+## Honest Monday artifact freeze
+What is now frozen on disk:
+- the product thesis and scope
+- the exact live blocker to attack first
+- one executable verifier entrypoint that proves the blocker is real
+
+## Week-one non-goals
+- full delegation UX redesign
+- multi-provider credential orchestration cleanup
+- dashboard/control-plane expansion
+- claiming delegation is fixed before one real delegated run passes

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T19-31-03-0500.md

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+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 19:31 CDT
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ⚠ Delegation blocked (Delegation provider 'minimax' resolved but has no API key. Set the appropriate environment variable or run 'hermes auth'.)
+    → Set a working delegation.provider or delegation.base_url/api_key, or clear the override to inherit the parent runtime.
+◆ Skills Hub
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ✓ Delegation ready (no delegation override configured; subagents inherit the parent runtime when invoked from an active Hermes session)
+◆ Skills Hub
+  ⚠ Skills Hub directory not initialized (run: hermes skills list)
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+
+## Honest next move
+Run one real delegated task from the live ready environment and append that proof to the canonical packet.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T19-32-48-0500.md

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+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 19:32 CDT
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ⚠ Delegation blocked (Delegation provider 'minimax' resolved but has no API key. Set the appropriate environment variable or run 'hermes auth'.)
+    → Set a working delegation.provider or delegation.base_url/api_key, or clear the override to inherit the parent runtime.
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ✓ Delegation ready (no delegation override configured; subagents inherit the parent runtime when invoked from an active Hermes session)
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+
+## Live delegated run after repair
+- `delegate_task` completed successfully from the live ready environment after the broken-state roundtrip proof was generated.
+- Summary: `Live delegation verified post-blocked-state roundtrip. Working directory: /Users/hermesmasteragent/.hermes/hermes-agent | Newest broken-state artifact: broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T19-31-03-0500.md`
+
+## Honest next move
+Sync the work stream and CEO notes to point at this canonical roundtrip packet, then decide whether the MVP is ready to call shipped or needs one more packaging/launch artifact.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T20-07-18-0500.md

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+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 20:07 CDT
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ⚠ Delegation blocked (Delegation provider 'minimax' resolved but has no API key. Set the appropriate environment variable or run 'hermes auth'.)
+    → Set a working delegation.provider or delegation.base_url/api_key, or clear the override to inherit the parent runtime.
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ✓ Delegation ready (no delegation override configured; subagents inherit the parent runtime when invoked from an active Hermes session)
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+
+## Honest next move
+Run one real delegated task from the live ready environment and append that proof to the canonical packet.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T20-08-53-0500.md

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+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 20:08 CDT
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ⚠ Delegation blocked (Delegation provider 'minimax' resolved but has no API key. Set the appropriate environment variable or run 'hermes auth'.)
+    → Set a working delegation.provider or delegation.base_url/api_key, or clear the override to inherit the parent runtime.
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ✓ Delegation ready (no delegation override configured; subagents inherit the parent runtime when invoked from an active Hermes session)
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+
+## Honest next move
+Run one real delegated task from the live ready environment and append that proof to the canonical packet.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T20-09-33-0500.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 20:09 CDT
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ⚠ Delegation blocked (Delegation provider 'minimax' resolved but has no API key. Set the appropriate environment variable or run 'hermes auth'.)
+    → Set a working delegation.provider or delegation.base_url/api_key, or clear the override to inherit the parent runtime.
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ✓ Delegation ready (no delegation override configured; subagents inherit the parent runtime when invoked from an active Hermes session)
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+
+## Honest next move
+Run one real delegated task from the live ready environment and append that proof to the canonical packet.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/current-gap-report-2026-04-22T18-06-41-0500.md

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Current Gap Report
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 18:06 CDT
+
+## Result
+CURRENT_GAP_CONFIRMED
+
+## What was checked
+- Parsed `tools/delegate_tool.py` with Python AST
+- Located `check_delegate_requirements()` at line 85
+- Confirmed the function still consists of only a docstring plus `return True`
+- Confirmed the delegation tool registration still wires `check_fn=check_delegate_requirements` at line 1215
+- Confirmed reusable doctor surfaces already exist in `hermes_cli/doctor.py` at lines 102 and 1023
+
+## Why this matters
+Hermes still advertises delegation readiness as always available even though the weekly MVP factory now depends on delegation as a real execution layer.
+
+## Evidence
+### Current function docstring
+> Delegation has no external requirements -- always available.
+
+### Current function body
+```python
+def check_delegate_requirements() -> bool:
+    """Delegation has no external requirements -- always available."""
+    return True
+```
+
+## Honest next move
+Replace the stubbed readiness check with one real config-aware check, surface that state through a canonical doctor/readiness command, then prove one passing delegated run.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-broken-state-roundtrip.md

@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 20:09 CDT
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ⚠ Delegation blocked (Delegation provider 'minimax' resolved but has no API key. Set the appropriate environment variable or run 'hermes auth'.)
+    → Set a working delegation.provider or delegation.base_url/api_key, or clear the override to inherit the parent runtime.
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+◆ Delegation Readiness
+  ✓ Delegation ready (no delegation override configured; subagents inherit the parent runtime when invoked from an active Hermes session)
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+
+## Honest next move
+Run one real delegated task from the live ready environment and append that proof to the canonical packet.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-current-gap-report.md

@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Historical Kickoff Gap Report
+
+Updated: 2026-04-22 20:13 CDT
+
+## Status
+HISTORICAL_BASELINE_ONLY
+
+## Why this file changed
+`tools/delegate_tool.py` no longer contains the original unconditional `return True` stub in `check_delegate_requirements()`.
+The kickoff gap that this report originally documented has been fixed in live code, so the prior `CURRENT_GAP_CONFIRMED` result is no longer an honest description of the current repo state.
+
+## What is true now
+- `check_delegate_requirements()` is config-aware
+- `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor` exposes `◆ Delegation Readiness`
+- the canonical live proof has moved to:
+  - `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-readiness-proof.md`
+  - `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-broken-state-roundtrip.md`
+  - the live delegated-run proof captured in the ship review artifact
+
+## Historical role of this file
+This path is retained to preserve the original Monday kickoff evidence: the MVP began with a real stubbed readiness check and a real need for an honest doctor surface.
+
+## Honest next move
+Judge the MVP on the readiness + broken-state roundtrip + delegated-run proof line, not on the now-closed kickoff stub.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-readiness-proof.md

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Readiness Proof
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 18:50 CDT
+
+## Result
+READINESS_SURFACE_SHIPPED
+
+## What changed this block
+- Added `get_delegate_readiness_status()` to `tools/delegate_tool.py` so delegation readiness is no longer an unconditional stub.
+- Replaced `check_delegate_requirements()` with a config-aware readiness gate.
+- Added a canonical `◆ Delegation Readiness` section to `hermes doctor` via `hermes_cli/doctor.py`.
+- Added focused tests for both the delegate readiness helper and the doctor output path.
+
+## Verification
+### Focused tests
+- `pytest tests/tools/test_delegate.py -q -k 'available_when_no_override_is_configured or available_when_override_resolves or unavailable_when_override_resolution_fails or readiness_status_exposes_fix_path'`
+- `pytest tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py -q -k 'delegation_readiness or reports_ready_status or reports_blocked_status_with_fix'`
+- Result: 4 passed + 2 passed
+
+### Live readiness diagnosis
+```python
+{'available': True, 'reason': 'override resolves successfully via minimax', 'fix': '', 'details': {'model': 'MiniMax-M2.7', 'provider': 'minimax', 'base_url': 'https://api.minimax.io/v1', 'api_key': 'sk-cp-...4le8', 'api_mode': 'chat_completions'}}
+```
+
+### Doctor surface
+`python -m hermes_cli.main doctor` now includes:
+- `◆ Delegation Readiness`
+- `✓ Delegation ready (override resolves successfully via minimax)`
+
+### Passing delegated run
+A real `delegate_task` proof run completed successfully after the patch and returned a summary confirming the new readiness surfaces in:
+- `tools/delegate_tool.py`
+- `hermes_cli/doctor.py`
+- `tests/tools/test_delegate.py`
+- `tests/hermes_cli/test_doctor.py`
+
+## Honest next move
+Use the new doctor/readiness surface to identify one intentionally broken delegation state, then prove the fix path flips the doctor call from blocked to ready and still ends in a passing delegated run.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-ship-review.md

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Ship Review
+
+Generated: 2026-04-22 20:13 CDT
+
+## Ship decision
+SHIPPABLE_ON_PROVED_LINE
+
+## Honest shipped claim
+From a live Hermes repo state, the delegation readiness surface can:
+1. report live readiness through `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`
+2. fail closed on an intentionally broken delegation override from an isolated temporary `HERMES_HOME`
+3. show the canonical repair path back to ready
+4. complete a real delegated run from the live ready environment
+
+## Proof / evidence checked this block
+### Live doctor call
+- Command: `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`
+- Verified output included:
+  - `◆ Delegation Readiness`
+  - `✓ Delegation ready (override resolves successfully via minimax)`
+
+### Broken-state roundtrip
+- Command: `bash starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh`
+- Result: `BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED`
+- Fresh artifact emitted at:
+  - `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/broken-state-roundtrip-2026-04-22T20-07-18-0500.md`
+  - `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/artifacts/latest-broken-state-roundtrip.md`
+
+### Live delegated run
+- Tool: `delegate_task`
+- Goal used: `Return a one-line confirmation that delegation executed successfully.`
+- Result: `READY: delegation executed successfully`
+
+## Packaging corrections made in the same block
+- Updated `starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/README.md` so it no longer claims the original unconditional-stub gap still exists.
+- Replaced `artifacts/latest-current-gap-report.md` with a historical-baseline note so the starter kit stops presenting stale kickoff proof as live truth.
+- Froze this ship review as the canonical package decision artifact.
+
+## Remaining blocker
+The product claim is proved, but repo durability is not yet frozen into an isolated clean commit surface. `git status --short` still shows broad unrelated working-tree changes outside this starter kit.
+
+## Exact next move
+Isolate the Delegation Readiness Doctor changes into a clean commit/PR surface, then package launch/distribution from that durable repo state instead of from a mixed working tree.

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+KIT_DIR="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$KIT_DIR/../.." && pwd)"
+ARTIFACT_DIR="$KIT_DIR/artifacts"
+mkdir -p "$ARTIFACT_DIR"
+
+TIMESTAMP="$(date +%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S%z)"
+REPORT_PATH="$ARTIFACT_DIR/broken-state-roundtrip-$TIMESTAMP.md"
+LATEST_PATH="$ARTIFACT_DIR/latest-broken-state-roundtrip.md"
+export HERMES_PROOF_PYTHON="$(command -v python)"
+
+python - "$REPO_ROOT" "$REPORT_PATH" "$LATEST_PATH" <<'PY'
+import os
+import re
+import shutil
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+from datetime import datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+
+repo_root = Path(sys.argv[1])
+report_path = Path(sys.argv[2])
+latest_path = Path(sys.argv[3])
+
+def strip_ansi(text: str) -> str:
+    return re.sub(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*[A-Za-z]", "", text)
+
+def doctor_section(hermes_home: Path, unset_minimax: bool) -> str:
+    env = os.environ.copy()
+    env["HERMES_HOME"] = str(hermes_home)
+    env["NO_COLOR"] = "1"
+    if unset_minimax:
+        env.pop("MINIMAX_API_KEY", None)
+        env.pop("MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY", None)
+    cmd = [os.environ.get("HERMES_PROOF_PYTHON", sys.executable), "-m", "hermes_cli.main", "doctor"]
+    proc = subprocess.run(
+        cmd,
+        cwd=repo_root,
+        env=env,
+        capture_output=True,
+        text=True,
+        check=True,
+    )
+    text = strip_ansi(proc.stdout)
+    lines = text.splitlines()
+    start = None
+    for idx, line in enumerate(lines):
+        if line.strip() == "◆ Delegation Readiness":
+            start = idx
+            break
+    if start is None:
+        raise SystemExit("Could not locate Delegation Readiness section in doctor output")
+    section_lines = []
+    for idx in range(start, len(lines)):
+        line = lines[idx].rstrip()
+        if idx > start and line.startswith("◆ "):
+            break
+        if line.strip():
+            section_lines.append(line)
+    return "\n".join(section_lines)
+
+with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix="delegation-readiness-") as tmpdir:
+    hermes_home = Path(tmpdir)
+    broken_config = """delegation:\n  provider: minimax\n  model: MiniMax-M2.7\n"""
+    (hermes_home / "config.yaml").write_text(broken_config, encoding="utf-8")
+
+    blocked = doctor_section(hermes_home, unset_minimax=True)
+
+    (hermes_home / "config.yaml").write_text("{}\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    ready = doctor_section(hermes_home, unset_minimax=True)
+
+report_time = datetime.now().astimezone().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z")
+relative_script = Path("starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh")
+report = f"""# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Broken-State Roundtrip
+
+Generated: {report_time}
+
+## Result
+BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED
+
+## Broken state induced
+- Temporary isolated `HERMES_HOME` was created under `mktemp`.
+- `config.yaml` inside that isolated home was set to:
+  - `delegation.provider: minimax`
+  - `delegation.model: MiniMax-M2.7`
+- `MINIMAX_API_KEY` and `MINIMAX_CN_API_KEY` were explicitly removed from the doctor subprocess environment so the readiness path had to fail on missing credentials instead of inheriting the real machine state.
+
+## Before repair — doctor output
+```text
+{blocked}
+```
+
+## Canonical repair path
+1. Clear the delegation override so subagents inherit the parent runtime.
+2. Re-run `python -m hermes_cli.main doctor`.
+3. Confirm `◆ Delegation Readiness` flips from blocked to ready before trusting delegated work.
+
+## After repair — doctor output
+```text
+{ready}
+```
+
+## Proof notes
+- The broken state was isolated to a temporary `HERMES_HOME`; the real `~/.hermes/config.yaml` was not modified.
+- The ready state after repair was proved by replacing the isolated config with an empty config (`{{}}`), which removes the delegation override entirely.
+- Script used: `{relative_script}`
+
+## Honest next move
+Run one real delegated task from the live ready environment and append that proof to the canonical packet.
+"""
+report_path.write_text(report, encoding="utf-8")
+shutil.copyfile(report_path, latest_path)
+print(report_path)
+PY
+
+chmod +x "$SCRIPT_DIR/prove-broken-state-roundtrip.sh"
+printf 'Wrote report: %s\n' "$REPORT_PATH"
+printf 'Latest report: %s\n' "$LATEST_PATH"
+printf 'BROKEN_STATE_ROUNDTRIP_PROVED\n'

starter-kits/delegation-readiness-doctor/scripts/verify-current-gap.sh

@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+KIT_DIR="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$KIT_DIR/../.." && pwd)"
+ARTIFACT_DIR="$KIT_DIR/artifacts"
+mkdir -p "$ARTIFACT_DIR"
+
+TIMESTAMP="$(date +%Y-%m-%dT%H-%M-%S%z)"
+REPORT_PATH="$ARTIFACT_DIR/current-gap-report-$TIMESTAMP.md"
+LATEST_PATH="$ARTIFACT_DIR/latest-current-gap-report.md"
+
+python3 - "$REPO_ROOT" "$REPORT_PATH" "$LATEST_PATH" <<'PY'
+import ast
+import shutil
+import sys
+from datetime import datetime
+from pathlib import Path
+
+repo_root = Path(sys.argv[1])
+report_path = Path(sys.argv[2])
+latest_path = Path(sys.argv[3])
+delegate_path = repo_root / "tools" / "delegate_tool.py"
+doctor_path = repo_root / "hermes_cli" / "doctor.py"
+
+source = delegate_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+tree = ast.parse(source)
+
+fn = None
+for node in tree.body:
+    if isinstance(node, ast.FunctionDef) and node.name == "check_delegate_requirements":
+        fn = node
+        break
+
+if fn is None:
+    raise SystemExit("check_delegate_requirements() not found")
+
+returns_true_only = len(fn.body) == 2 and isinstance(fn.body[0], ast.Expr) and isinstance(getattr(fn.body[0], "value", None), ast.Constant) and isinstance(fn.body[1], ast.Return) and isinstance(getattr(fn.body[1], "value", None), ast.Constant) and fn.body[1].value.value is True
+if not returns_true_only:
+    raise SystemExit("Delegation readiness gap no longer matches the expected stubbed-check shape")
+
+docstring = ast.get_docstring(fn) or ""
+segment = ast.get_source_segment(source, fn) or ""
+doctor_source = doctor_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+report_time = datetime.now().astimezone().strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z")
+relative_delegate = delegate_path.relative_to(repo_root)
+relative_doctor = doctor_path.relative_to(repo_root)
+
+def find_line(text, needle):
+    for idx, line in enumerate(text.splitlines(), start=1):
+        if needle in line:
+            return idx
+    return None
+
+fn_line = fn.lineno
+wire_line = find_line(source, "check_fn=check_delegate_requirements")
+override_line = find_line(doctor_source, "def _apply_doctor_tool_availability_overrides")
+tool_availability_line = find_line(doctor_source, 'print(color("◆ Tool Availability"')
+
+report = f"""# Delegation Readiness Doctor — Current Gap Report
+
+Generated: {report_time}
+
+## Result
+CURRENT_GAP_CONFIRMED
+
+## What was checked
+- Parsed `{relative_delegate}` with Python AST
+- Located `check_delegate_requirements()` at line {fn_line}
+- Confirmed the function still consists of only a docstring plus `return True`
+- Confirmed the delegation tool registration still wires `check_fn=check_delegate_requirements` at line {wire_line or 'unknown'}
+- Confirmed reusable doctor surfaces already exist in `{relative_doctor}` at lines {override_line or 'unknown'} and {tool_availability_line or 'unknown'}
+
+## Why this matters
+Hermes still advertises delegation readiness as always available even though the weekly MVP factory now depends on delegation as a real execution layer.
+
+## Evidence
+### Current function docstring
+> {docstring}
+
+### Current function body
+```python
+{segment.strip()}
+```
+
+## Honest next move
+Replace the stubbed readiness check with one real config-aware check, surface that state through a canonical doctor/readiness command, then prove one passing delegated run.
+"""
+
+report_path.write_text(report, encoding="utf-8")
+shutil.copyfile(report_path, latest_path)
+print(str(report_path))
+PY
+
+printf 'Wrote report: %s\n' "$REPORT_PATH"
+printf 'Latest report: %s\n' "$LATEST_PATH"
+printf 'CURRENT_GAP_CONFIRMED\n'