[Prompt/Skill] Add explicit publishability gate mode

docs/en/02_START_RESEARCH_GUIDE.md

@@ -319,6 +319,20 @@ This is the main public knob for round depth.
 - `user_gated`
   - the agent may raise a blocking decision only when continuation truly depends on the user
 
+**Advanced startup-contract field: `publishability_gate_mode`**
+
+This is an optional paper-mode policy field for users who create or edit startup contracts directly.
+It is not currently exposed as a first-class dialog control.
+
+- `off`
+  - disable the default explicit publishability-gate requirement
+- `warn`
+  - keep publishability judgment visible before paper routing, but treat it as advisory
+- `enforce`
+  - require an explicit publishability gate before paper-facing writing continues
+
+If omitted, DeepScientist follows the default runtime paper-delivery policy.
+
 ### Launch mode
 
 **`launch_mode`**

docs/zh/02_START_RESEARCH_GUIDE.md

@@ -329,6 +329,20 @@ type StartResearchContractFields = {
 - `user_gated`
   - 只有真正依赖用户偏好时，才允许阻塞式决策请求
 
+**高级 startup-contract 字段：`publishability_gate_mode`**
+
+这是一个可选的 paper-mode 策略字段，适合直接编辑 startup contract 的高级用户。
+当前它还没有作为单独的表单控件暴露在启动对话框里。
+
+- `off`
+  - 关闭默认的显式 publishability gate 要求
+- `warn`
+  - 在 paper 路由前仍然要求做 publishability 判断，但默认按建议性检查处理
+- `enforce`
+  - 在继续 paper-facing 写作前，要求先通过一次显式 publishability gate
+
+如果不填写，DeepScientist 会沿用当前默认的 paper delivery runtime 策略。
+
 ### 启动模式
 
 **`launch_mode`**

src/deepscientist/prompts/builder.py

@@ -729,20 +729,31 @@ def _manuscript_edit_mode(snapshot: dict) -> str:
                 return value
         return "none"
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _publishability_gate_mode(snapshot: dict) -> str:
+        startup_contract = snapshot.get("startup_contract")
+        if isinstance(startup_contract, dict):
+            value = str(startup_contract.get("publishability_gate_mode") or "").strip().lower()
+            if value in {"off", "warn", "enforce"}:
+                return value
+        return "enforce"
+
     def _research_delivery_policy_block(self, snapshot: dict) -> str:
         need_research_paper = self._need_research_paper(snapshot)
         launch_mode = self._launch_mode(snapshot)
         custom_profile = self._custom_profile(snapshot)
         baseline_execution_policy = self._baseline_execution_policy(snapshot)
         review_followup_policy = self._review_followup_policy(snapshot)
         manuscript_edit_mode = self._manuscript_edit_mode(snapshot)
+        publishability_gate_mode = self._publishability_gate_mode(snapshot)
         lines = [
             f"- need_research_paper: {need_research_paper}",
             f"- launch_mode: {launch_mode}",
             f"- custom_profile: {custom_profile if launch_mode == 'custom' else 'n/a'}",
             f"- review_followup_policy: {review_followup_policy if custom_profile == 'review_audit' else 'n/a'}",
             f"- baseline_execution_policy: {baseline_execution_policy if launch_mode == 'custom' else 'n/a'}",
             f"- manuscript_edit_mode: {manuscript_edit_mode if custom_profile in {'review_audit', 'revision_rebuttal'} else 'n/a'}",
+            f"- publishability_gate_mode: {publishability_gate_mode if need_research_paper else 'n/a'}",
             f"- delivery_mode: {'paper_required' if need_research_paper else 'algorithm_first'}",
             "- requested_skill_rule: stage-specific execution detail lives in the requested skill; this block only adds runtime launch policy.",
             "- idea_stage_rule: every accepted idea submission should normally create a new branch/worktree and a new user-visible research node.",
@@ -839,8 +850,27 @@ def _research_delivery_policy_block(self, snapshot: dict) -> str:
                     "- delivery_goal: the quest should normally continue until at least one paper-like deliverable exists.",
                     "- main_result_rule: a strong main experiment is evidence, not the endpoint; usually continue into analysis, writing, or strengthening work.",
                     "- paper_branch_rule: writing should normally continue on a dedicated `paper/*` branch/worktree derived from the evidence line rather than mutating the evidence branch itself.",
+                ]
+            )
+            if publishability_gate_mode != "off":
+                lines.extend(
+                    [
+                        "- publishability_gate_rule: at minimum after scout closes, after the first meaningful main result, and before any paper-facing branch, explicitly judge whether the current line still has a credible path to a strong publishable paper; if not, record `stop` or `branch` durably and pivot instead of continuing by inertia.",
+                        "- weak_line_stop_rule: do not keep spending budget on lines whose remaining story is only trivial metric movement, unstable claims, or packaging without clear reviewer-facing value.",
+                    ]
+                )
+                if publishability_gate_mode == "warn":
+                    lines.append(
+                        "- publishability_gate_advisory_rule: treat the publishability gate as an advisory checkpoint; surface the judgment clearly before `write`, but do not treat it as a hard write-admission contract unless some other quest policy says so."
+                    )
+                else:
+                    lines.append(
+                        "- paper_branch_admission_rule: a paper-like draft is not itself success; only open or continue `write` when the line still passes the publishability gate."
+                    )
+            lines.extend(
+                [
                     "- review_gate_rule: before declaring a substantial paper/draft task done, open `review` for an independent skeptical audit; if that audit finds serious gaps, route to `analysis-campaign`, `baseline`, `scout`, or `write` instead of stopping.",
-                    "- stop_rule: do not stop with only an improved algorithm or isolated run logs unless the user explicitly narrows scope.",
+                    "- stop_rule: do not stop with only an improved algorithm or isolated run logs unless the user explicitly narrows scope, but also do not force weak lines to continue merely to produce a paper-like artifact.",
                 ]
             )
         else:
@@ -861,13 +891,15 @@ def _interaction_style_block(self, *, default_locale: str, user_message: str, sn
         bound_conversations = snapshot.get("bound_conversations") or []
         need_research_paper = self._need_research_paper(snapshot)
         decision_policy = self._decision_policy(snapshot)
+        publishability_gate_mode = self._publishability_gate_mode(snapshot)
         launch_mode = self._launch_mode(snapshot)
         custom_profile = self._custom_profile(snapshot)
         lines = [
             f"- configured_default_locale: {default_locale}",
             f"- current_turn_language_bias: {'zh' if chinese_turn else 'en'}",
             f"- bound_conversation_count: {len(bound_conversations)}",
             f"- decision_policy: {decision_policy}",
+            f"- publishability_gate_mode: {publishability_gate_mode if need_research_paper else 'n/a'}",
             f"- launch_mode: {launch_mode}",
             f"- custom_profile: {custom_profile if launch_mode == 'custom' else 'n/a'}",
             "- collaboration_mode: long-horizon, continuity-first, artifact-aware",
@@ -918,9 +950,14 @@ def _interaction_style_block(self, *, default_locale: str, user_message: str, sn
                 ]
             )
         if need_research_paper:
-            lines.append(
-                "- completion_protocol: for full_research and similarly end-to-end quests, do not self-stop after one stage or one launched detached run; keep advancing until a paper-like deliverable exists unless the user explicitly stops or narrows scope"
-            )
+            if publishability_gate_mode == "off":
+                lines.append(
+                    "- completion_protocol: for full_research and similarly end-to-end quests, do not self-stop after one stage or one launched detached run; keep advancing until a paper-like deliverable exists unless the user explicitly stops or narrows scope"
+                )
+            else:
+                lines.append(
+                    "- completion_protocol: for full_research and similarly end-to-end quests, do not self-stop after one stage or one launched detached run; keep advancing until either a credible paper-like deliverable exists or a durable publishability-gate decision concludes that the current line should stop or branch."
+                )
         else:
             lines.append(
                 "- completion_protocol: when `startup_contract.need_research_paper` is false, the quest goal is the strongest justified algorithmic result; keep iterating from measured main-experiment results and do not self-route into paper work by default"

src/skills/decision/SKILL.md

@@ -43,6 +43,23 @@ It is a cross-cutting control skill that should be used whenever the quest must
 - a user preference-sensitive choice remains
 - a blocker needs an explicit route
 
+## Publishability gate
+
+When `startup_contract.need_research_paper = true`, treat publishability as a first-class route question, not just a writing question.
+
+Interpret `startup_contract.publishability_gate_mode` as follows when present:
+
+- `off`
+  - do not force an explicit publishability gate by default
+  - still surface clear weakness if the line looks bad, but do not require a dedicated gate checkpoint before `write`
+- `warn`
+  - run an explicit publishability judgment before `write` when the evidence looks mixed
+  - treat the judgment as advisory unless another quest policy makes it stricter
+- `enforce`
+  - do not route into `write` or a paper-facing branch until the line has passed an explicit publishability gate
+
+If the field is missing, follow the default runtime policy injected by the prompt builder.
+
 ## Required decision record
 
 Every consequential decision should make clear:

src/skills/write/SKILL.md

@@ -120,8 +120,11 @@ Before writing seriously, confirm:
 - the claims you intend to write are backed by durable artifacts
 - the code/diff path is available for method fidelity checks
 - the evaluation contract is explicit
+- if `startup_contract.publishability_gate_mode = enforce`, the current line still passes an explicit publishability gate
+- if `startup_contract.publishability_gate_mode = warn`, the current line has at least been judged for publishability and any remaining weakness is being treated consciously rather than ignored
 
 If major claims lack evidence, surface the gap first.
+If `startup_contract.publishability_gate_mode = off`, do not invent a fake gate requirement that the quest did not ask for.
 
 ## Truth sources
 

tests/test_prompt_builder.py

@@ -442,7 +442,8 @@ def test_prompt_builder_mentions_long_horizon_no_early_stop_rule(temp_home: Path
         model="gpt-5.4",
     )
 
-    assert "keep advancing until a paper-like deliverable exists" in prompt
+    assert "keep advancing until either a credible paper-like deliverable exists" in prompt
+    assert "publishability-gate decision concludes that the current line should stop or branch" in prompt
     assert "do not self-stop after one stage or one launched detached run" in prompt
     assert "any new message or `/resume` will continue from the same quest" in prompt
     assert "standby_prefix_rule:" in prompt
@@ -537,6 +538,57 @@ def test_prompt_builder_mentions_autonomous_decision_mode(temp_home: Path) -> No
     assert "explicit quest-completion approval is still allowed" in prompt
 
 
+def test_prompt_builder_can_disable_publishability_gate_rules(temp_home: Path) -> None:
+    ensure_home_layout(temp_home)
+    ConfigManager(temp_home).ensure_files()
+    service = QuestService(temp_home, skill_installer=SkillInstaller(repo_root(), temp_home))
+    snapshot = service.create(
+        "paper quest without explicit publishability-gate enforcement",
+        startup_contract={
+            "need_research_paper": True,
+            "publishability_gate_mode": "off",
+        },
+    )
+    builder = PromptBuilder(repo_root(), temp_home)
+
+    prompt = builder.build(
+        quest_id=snapshot["quest_id"],
+        skill_id="decision",
+        user_message="Decide the next step for this paper quest.",
+        model="gpt-5.4",
+    )
+
+    assert "publishability_gate_mode: off" in prompt
+    assert "publishability_gate_rule:" not in prompt
+    assert "paper_branch_admission_rule:" not in prompt
+
+
+def test_prompt_builder_warn_mode_keeps_gate_advisory(temp_home: Path) -> None:
+    ensure_home_layout(temp_home)
+    ConfigManager(temp_home).ensure_files()
+    service = QuestService(temp_home, skill_installer=SkillInstaller(repo_root(), temp_home))
+    snapshot = service.create(
+        "paper quest with advisory publishability gate",
+        startup_contract={
+            "need_research_paper": True,
+            "publishability_gate_mode": "warn",
+        },
+    )
+    builder = PromptBuilder(repo_root(), temp_home)
+
+    prompt = builder.build(
+        quest_id=snapshot["quest_id"],
+        skill_id="decision",
+        user_message="Decide the next step for this paper quest.",
+        model="gpt-5.4",
+    )
+
+    assert "publishability_gate_mode: warn" in prompt
+    assert "publishability_gate_rule:" in prompt
+    assert "paper_branch_admission_rule:" not in prompt
+    assert "publishability_gate_advisory_rule:" in prompt
+
+
 def test_prompt_builder_delegates_stage_specific_sop_to_skills(temp_home: Path) -> None:
     builder, snapshot = _make_builder(temp_home)