fix(plan): drop SeededAppendRules note when a text card sets strategy

agentdescent/evolvespec.py

@@ -1179,10 +1179,8 @@ def run(skill: str, task: Task) -> str:
             run=run, propose=reflector(reflect),
             strategy=SeededAppendRules(seed=_read_text_target(spec.target)),
             blast_radius=SKILL_BLAST_RADIUS)
-        notes.append(
-            "kind=text: SeededAppendRules keeps the seed prompt and appends each "
-            "accepted one-sentence rule under '# Learned rules' (#837); pass "
-            "strategy=SingleSlot(...) in evolve knobs for full-rewrite semantics")
+        # The SeededAppendRules note is added after knobs merge, once we know
+        # whether a card or caller replaced strategy (#879).
         # Inline text is supported, but a path-looking missing file is almost
         # certainly a typo -- warn so plan surfaces it (#706).
         if looks_like_path_target(spec.target) and not os.path.isfile(
@@ -1348,6 +1346,14 @@ def run(skill: str, task: Task) -> str:
     # -- knobs: kind defaults < spec.evolve < caller overrides ------------------
     knobs: Dict[str, Any] = {**defaults, **(ov.knobs if ov else {}),
                              **_evolve_pass_through(spec.evolve), **overrides}
+    # kind=text defaults to SeededAppendRules above; a card (gepa/ace/dgm/
+    # skillopt) or compose(strategy=...) puts "strategy" in knobs and then
+    # overwrites that default. Don't also claim SeededAppendRules (#879).
+    if spec.kind == "text" and "strategy" not in knobs:
+        notes.append(
+            "kind=text: SeededAppendRules keeps the seed prompt and appends each "
+            "accepted one-sentence rule under '# Learned rules' (#837); pass "
+            "strategy=SingleSlot(...) in evolve knobs for full-rewrite semantics")
     # The dedicated field and the pass-through agree; an explicit `spec.evolve`
     # entry wins, exactly as it would for any other knob.
     if spec.extra_artifacts:

changelog.d/879-text-strategy-note.md

@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Fixed
+When a `kind=text` card or caller sets `strategy`, plan no longer also
+claims `SeededAppendRules`. `gepa` / `ace` / `dgm` / `skillopt` drop the
+generic note; `rrsi` and a bare text spec still show it (#879).

tests/test_seeded_append_text.py

@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import pytest
+
 from agentdescent.evolution import SeededAppendRules, SingleSlot, Task, evolve
 from agentdescent.evolvespec import EvolveSpec, compose
 from agentdescent.strategies import rule_id
@@ -81,3 +83,43 @@ def test_empty_state_preserves_seed_trailing_newline():
     """apply no-op depends on empty render matching the on-disk seed (#849)."""
     seed = "original\n"
     assert SeededAppendRules(seed=seed).render({}) == seed
+
+
+_SEEDED_NOTE_PREFIX = "kind=text: SeededAppendRules"
+
+
+def _text_spec(**extra):
+    return EvolveSpec(
+        kind="text",
+        target=SEED,
+        data={"inline": [{"prompt": f"q{i}", "gold": "a"} for i in range(8)]},
+        agent="echo",
+        reflect="echo",
+        **extra,
+    )
+
+
+def _has_default_seeded_note(notes):
+    return any(n.startswith(_SEEDED_NOTE_PREFIX) for n in notes)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("algorithm, expect_note", [
+    (None, True),
+    ("rrsi", True),
+    ("ace", False),
+    ("dgm", False),
+    ("gepa", False),
+    ("skillopt", False),
+])
+def test_text_seeded_append_note_follows_actual_strategy(algorithm, expect_note):
+    """Cards that replace strategy must not also claim SeededAppendRules (#879)."""
+    extra = {} if algorithm is None else {"algorithm": algorithm}
+    comp = compose(_text_spec(**extra))
+    assert _has_default_seeded_note(comp.notes) is expect_note
+
+
+def test_text_seeded_append_note_drops_when_caller_sets_strategy():
+    """A compose(strategy=...) override is the same as a card knob (#879)."""
+    comp = compose(_text_spec(), strategy=SingleSlot(initial_value=SEED))
+    assert isinstance(comp.kwargs["strategy"], SingleSlot)
+    assert not _has_default_seeded_note(comp.notes)