From 27671bb743befe8ed0bfebed4965d0833e4bc63a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Robert Lippmann <robert.lippmann.development@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 10 Mar 2026 01:38:49 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] feat: make reset policies clear only prohibitions

- reset policies now clears policies.prohibit but preserves facts
- remove clear constraints command
- keep clear state as full reset
- update tests and documentation
- add tests for reset semantics and correction behavior
---
 README.md                      | 39 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 docs/M1Design.md               |  6 ++++--
 src/context_compiler/engine.py |  5 ++---
 tests/test_engine.py           | 35 +++++++++++++++++++++++++-----
 4 files changed, 75 insertions(+), 10 deletions(-)

diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b8c1c0f..86978b0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -213,6 +213,45 @@ Decision.kind = "clarify"
 
 No state mutation occurs until confirmation.
 
+## Reset Commands
+
+Two explicit reset commands are supported:
+
+- `reset policies` clears `policies.prohibit` but preserves the current fact (`facts["focus.primary"]`)
+- `clear state` resets the full state to initial values
+
+Example:
+
+Before:
+
+```json
+{
+  "facts": {"focus.primary": "oracle"},
+  "policies": {"prohibit": ["stored procedures"]},
+  "version": 1
+}
+```
+
+After `reset policies`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "facts": {"focus.primary": "oracle"},
+  "policies": {"prohibit": []},
+  "version": 1
+}
+```
+
+After `clear state`:
+
+```json
+{
+  "facts": {"focus.primary": null},
+  "policies": {"prohibit": []},
+  "version": 1
+}
+```
+
 ---
 
 ## Examples
diff --git a/docs/M1Design.md b/docs/M1Design.md
index 1ccd052..c270188 100644
--- a/docs/M1Design.md
+++ b/docs/M1Design.md
@@ -259,12 +259,14 @@ Example:
 Explicit only:
 
 - "reset policies"
-- "clear constraints"
 - "clear state"
 
 Produces:
 
-    state = initial_state
+    if command == "reset policies":
+        state.policies.prohibit = []
+    elif command == "clear state":
+        state = initial_state
     Decision.kind = "update"
 
 ### 12. Non-Goals (M1)
diff --git a/src/context_compiler/engine.py b/src/context_compiler/engine.py
index c4d72ce..6cf1fd1 100644
--- a/src/context_compiler/engine.py
+++ b/src/context_compiler/engine.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class NegativeDirectiveRule:
     strip_leading_use: bool
 
 
-_RESET_POLICY = {"reset policies", "clear constraints"}
+_RESET_POLICY = {"reset policies"}
 _CLEAR_STATE = {"clear state"}
 
 _CORRECTION_RE = re.compile(r"^\s*(actually|i meant|correction:|no,)\s*(.*?)\s*$", re.IGNORECASE)
@@ -215,8 +215,7 @@ def _apply_event(self, event: PendingEvent) -> Decision:
             assert event.fact_value is not None
             return self._set_focus_primary(event.fact_value)
         if event.kind == "reset_policies":
-            self._state = _initial_state()
-            self._last_exclusive_fact_key = None
+            self._state[STATE_POLICIES][POLICY_PROHIBIT] = []
             return _update_decision(self._state)
 
         self._state = _initial_state()
diff --git a/tests/test_engine.py b/tests/test_engine.py
index cccb787..8e08bfc 100644
--- a/tests/test_engine.py
+++ b/tests/test_engine.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ def test_reset_commands() -> None:
     decision1 = engine.step("reset policies")
     assert decision1["kind"] == "update"
     assert engine.state == {
-        "facts": {"focus.primary": None},
+        "facts": {"focus.primary": "Nord Stage 4"},
         "policies": {"prohibit": []},
         "version": 1,
     }
@@ -192,10 +192,10 @@ def test_reset_commands() -> None:
     engine.step("don't use parallel octaves")
 
     decision_constraints = engine.step("clear constraints")
-    assert decision_constraints["kind"] == "update"
+    assert decision_constraints["kind"] == "passthrough"
     assert engine.state == {
-        "facts": {"focus.primary": None},
-        "policies": {"prohibit": []},
+        "facts": {"focus.primary": "Nord Stage 4"},
+        "policies": {"prohibit": ["parallel octaves"]},
         "version": 1,
     }
 
@@ -221,13 +221,38 @@ def test_passthrough_input_does_not_mutate_state() -> None:
     assert engine.state == before
 
 
-def test_reset_policies_when_already_empty_resets_state() -> None:
+def test_reset_policies_when_already_empty_preserves_existing_fact() -> None:
     engine = create_engine()
 
     engine.step("use Nord Stage 4")
 
     decision = engine.step("reset policies")
 
+    assert decision["kind"] == "update"
+    assert engine.state == {
+        "facts": {"focus.primary": "Nord Stage 4"},
+        "policies": {"prohibit": []},
+        "version": 1,
+    }
+
+
+def test_reset_policies_keeps_last_exclusive_fact_correctable() -> None:
+    engine = create_engine()
+
+    engine.step("use Nord Stage 4")
+    engine.step("don't use docker")
+    engine.step("reset policies")
+
+    decision = engine.step("actually Nord Stage 3")
+    assert decision["kind"] == "update"
+    assert engine.state["facts"]["focus.primary"] == "Nord Stage 3"
+
+
+def test_reset_policies_on_initial_state_is_update_and_noop() -> None:
+    engine = create_engine()
+
+    decision = engine.step("reset policies")
+
     assert decision["kind"] == "update"
     assert engine.state == {
         "facts": {"focus.primary": None},