From 0bd116b6b74e9eebebab4af2a34b67d5062d96b5 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Eric Rakestraw <eric@rakestraw.us>
Date: Sat, 3 Oct 2026 01:31:42 +0000
Subject: [PATCH] Request independent Audita output destinations

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+# Independent output destinations for Narratio integration
+
+## Request
+
+Allow CLI callers to independently select destinations for:
+
+- the completed transcript;
+- ordinary reports; and
+- debug captures, including retained working material.
+
+Narratio would like to use the existing `--output`, `--report-dir`, and
+`--work-dir` controls together, with `--debug` supplied when it explicitly
+requests debug capture. This request concerns external CLI behavior only.
+
+## Current CLI limitation
+
+The [CLI contract](../cli.md) documents that `--report-dir` selects the report
+directory for stdout transcript output, but has no effect with file transcript
+output. Reports then accompany the transcript file. This prevents Narratio from
+directing the transcript and ordinary reports to independent locations in the
+same invocation.
+
+The existing transcript and debug destination controls already provide much of
+the requested separation.
+
+## Desired behavior
+
+- With `--output FILE --report-dir DIR`, write the transcript to `FILE` and any
+  ordinary reports produced to `DIR`.
+- Continue supporting `--report-dir DIR` when the transcript goes to stdout.
+- Apply the selected report destination to reports produced on unsuccessful
+  runs as well as successful runs. This does not require reports for failure
+  conditions that would not otherwise produce them.
+- Allow the debug destination to be selected independently of both the
+  transcript and ordinary report destinations. Audita may retain its own
+  filenames and nested directory structure beneath that destination.
+- Keep debug enablement separate from destination selection. Narratio needs
+  to select a debug destination while leaving capture enablement to Audita's
+  configuration or defaults, and to pass `--debug` when explicitly requesting
+  capture. Narratio does not need an additional debug-disable mechanism.
+- Preserve existing defaults when destination overrides are omitted. Selecting
+  a report or debug destination does not itself enable that category of output.
+
+Production Narratio runs use Audita's default ordinary reporting behavior. They
+do not pass `--reporting=false` or enable debug unless requested. Narratio
+captures stdout and stderr itself; this request does not require a separate
+Audita flag for redirecting those streams.
+
+## Supporting rationale
+
+Narratio's planned workspace separates products and diagnostics. Operators inspect
+completed transcripts under `transcripts/` and other completed products under
+`artifacts/`. Logs and Debug have run-specific storage and convenient
+latest-attempt views organized by stage.
+
+Independent destinations let Narratio supply a transcript staging path, a
+run-specific polish log directory for ordinary reports, and a separate
+run-specific polish debug directory. Reports can be inspected at their selected
+location as they are produced, including after failures, without Narratio relocating them
+from the transcript directory. Normal reporting can remain enabled without
+mixing diagnostic files with completed products.
+
+Narratio owns these destinations and their operator-facing views. Audita owns
+the report and debug formats and its internal working-state lifecycle. This
+request does not prescribe Audita's internal design, cache locations, retention
+policies, or how it organizes material within a debug capture.
+
+## Observable outcome
+
+A caller can select three distinct destinations in one invocation. The
+transcript appears at the selected output file, ordinary reports appear at the
+selected report directory, and enabled debug captures appear beneath the
+selected debug root. The same report placement applies to whatever reports
+Audita produces before an unsuccessful exit.