edithatogo · Aug 10, 2026 · Aug 10, 2026
diff --git a/conductor/contracts/substack-cli-maturity.contract.json b/conductor/contracts/substack-cli-maturity.contract.json
@@ -2600,6 +2600,26 @@
         "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/537",
         "title": "Prevent title and subtitle duplication in published post bodies"
       }
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "title": "Metadata duplication transport regression matrix",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "requiredTaskCount": 3,
+      "existingIssues": [
+        544
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 544,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/544",
+        "title": "T18-02 Metadata duplication transport regression matrix"
+      }
     }
   ],
   "tasks": [
@@ -7193,6 +7213,57 @@
         "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
       ],
       "release": "next patch"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-01",
+      "title": "Add table-driven preparation regression matrix",
+      "trackId": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 545,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/545",
+        "title": "T18-02 Add table-driven preparation regression matrix"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-02",
+      "title": "Assert transport payload preserves metadata/body separation",
+      "trackId": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 546,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/546",
+        "title": "T18-02 Assert transport payload preserves metadata/body separation"
+      }
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-03",
+      "title": "Run and record deterministic regression verification",
+      "trackId": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 547,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/547",
+        "title": "T18-02 Run and record deterministic regression verification"
+      }
     }
   ],
   "issueMap": {

diff --git a/conductor/programme-state.json b/conductor/programme-state.json
@@ -88,8 +88,8 @@
     {
       "id": "P18",
       "issue": 538,
-      "state": "CLOSED",
-      "status": "Done"
+      "state": "OPEN",
+      "status": "In Progress"
     }
   ],
   "tracks": [
@@ -468,6 +468,13 @@
       "state": "CLOSED",
       "status": "Done",
       "evidence": "conductor/archive/T18-01/verification.md"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02",
+      "phase": "P18",
+      "issue": 544,
+      "state": "OPEN",
+      "status": "Todo"
     }
   ],
   "tasks": [
@@ -2022,6 +2029,27 @@
       "state": "CLOSED",
       "status": "Done",
       "evidence": "conductor/archive/T18-01/verification.md"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-01",
+      "track": "T18-02",
+      "issue": 545,
+      "state": "OPEN",
+      "status": "Todo"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-02",
+      "track": "T18-02",
+      "issue": 546,
+      "state": "OPEN",
+      "status": "Todo"
+    },
+    {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-03",
+      "track": "T18-02",
+      "issue": 547,
+      "state": "OPEN",
+      "status": "Todo"
     }
   ],
   "supplemental": [

diff --git a/conductor/traceability.json b/conductor/traceability.json
@@ -157,9 +157,10 @@
       "title": "Metadata/body de-duplication correctness",
       "releaseTarget": "next patch",
       "tracks": [
-        "T18-01"
+        "T18-01",
+        "T18-02"
       ],
-      "status": "contract_verified"
+      "status": "in_progress"
     }
   },
   "tracks": {
@@ -862,6 +863,26 @@
         537
       ],
       "issue": null
+    },
+    "T18-02": {
+      "id": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "title": "Metadata duplication transport regression matrix",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "requiredTaskCount": 3,
+      "existingIssues": [
+        544
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 544,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/544",
+        "title": "T18-02 Metadata duplication transport regression matrix"
+      }
     }
   },
   "tasks": {
@@ -4679,6 +4700,57 @@
         "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
       ],
       "release": "next patch"
+    },
+    "T18-02-TASK-01": {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-01",
+      "title": "Add table-driven preparation regression matrix",
+      "trackId": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 545,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/545",
+        "title": "T18-02 Add table-driven preparation regression matrix"
+      }
+    },
+    "T18-02-TASK-02": {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-02",
+      "title": "Assert transport payload preserves metadata/body separation",
+      "trackId": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 546,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/546",
+        "title": "T18-02 Assert transport payload preserves metadata/body separation"
+      }
+    },
+    "T18-02-TASK-03": {
+      "id": "T18-02-TASK-03",
+      "title": "Run and record deterministic regression verification",
+      "trackId": "T18-02",
+      "phaseId": "P18",
+      "status": "planned",
+      "contractIds": [
+        "PARSER-AST-006",
+        "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008",
+        "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"
+      ],
+      "issue": {
+        "number": 547,
+        "url": "https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/547",
+        "title": "T18-02 Run and record deterministic regression verification"
+      }
     }
   },
   "contractMap": {},

diff --git a/conductor/tracks.md b/conductor/tracks.md
@@ -90,3 +90,4 @@ Canonical status is evidence-gated by [programme-state.json](./programme-state.j
 
 ## P18 Metadata/body de-duplication correctness
 - [x] **T18-01 Metadata/body de-duplication correctness** ([#537](https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/537)) ([evidence](./archive/T18-01/index.md))
+- [ ] **T18-02 Metadata duplication transport regression matrix** ([#544](https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/544))
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/contracts.json b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/contracts.json
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "schemaVersion": 1,
+  "trackId": "T18-02",
+  "contractIds": ["PARSER-AST-006", "FEATURE-FIDELITY-008", "UX-CLI-CONTRACT-005"],
+  "programmeIssue": 184,
+  "project": 38
+}
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/design.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Design T18-02
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR
+  A["Markdown case matrix"] --> B["Shared preparePost boundary"]
+  B --> C["Markdown / HTML / ProseMirror assertions"]
+  C --> D["buildSubstackDraftPayload"]
+  D --> E["Serialized draft-write body assertion"]
+  E --> F{"Metadata absent from body?"}
+  F -->|Yes| G["Regression passes"]
+  F -->|No| H["Regression fails"]
+```
+
+The tests intentionally inspect each representation rather than only checking a final rendered string. This prevents a later transport adapter from reintroducing a defect already fixed at preparation time.
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/index.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/index.md
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+# T18-02 Metadata duplication transport regression matrix
+
+- [Specification](./spec.md)
+- [Requirements](./requirements.md)
+- [Design](./design.md)
+- [Plan](./plan.md)
+- [Verification](./verification.md)
+- [Metadata](./metadata.json)
+- [GitHub issue #544](https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/544)
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/metadata.json b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/metadata.json
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+{
+  "trackId": "T18-02",
+  "title": "Metadata duplication transport regression matrix",
+  "type": "quality",
+  "status": "in_progress",
+  "parentIssue": 538,
+  "issue": 544,
+  "taskIssues": [545, 546, 547],
+  "project": 38,
+  "createdAt": "2026-08-11T00:10:00+10:00"
+}
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/plan.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/plan.md
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# Plan T18-02
+
+1. Add the preparation matrix for metadata/body representations and preservation cases.
+2. Add a payload serialization regression proving transport does not reintroduce duplication.
+3. Run focused, type, full, contract, governance, formatting, and diff checks.
+4. Open a focused pull request, monitor checks and comments, and merge only after required checks pass.
+5. Record evidence, close the track, and remove its disposable worktree and branch.
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/requirements.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/requirements.md
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+# Requirements T18-02
+
+## Must
+
+- Add table-driven regression cases for plain, formatted, and heading metadata representations.
+- Assert synchronized Markdown, HTML, and ProseMirror output after preparation.
+- Assert the serialized publish payload does not reintroduce removed metadata.
+- Preserve mismatch and later-body-match behavior.
+- Keep the tests deterministic and independent of live credentials.
+
+## Should
+
+- Exercise title fallback when front matter does not provide a title.
+- Keep the matrix easy to extend for future parser representations.
+
+## Could
+
+- Add fixture-backed cases for additional Markdown constructs.
+
+## Won't
+
+- Add fuzzy or semantic deletion of body content.
+- Add live Substack calls to the regression suite.
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/risks.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/risks.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Risks T18-02
+
+- Parser output changes could make a representation-specific case fail; the matrix should expose that drift before publication.
+- A future transport adapter could serialize a different body shape; the payload assertion covers the current draft-write boundary.
+- Live Substack behavior remains outside deterministic CI and requires the existing canary controls.
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/spec.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/spec.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+# Specification T18-02
+
+The publishing pipeline must preserve a single canonical copy of title and subtitle metadata. Regression coverage must prove that normalization is retained through preparation, ProseMirror payload construction, and serialized draft-write request construction.
+
+The matrix covers plain, formatted, and heading representations; title fallback; mismatches; and later body matches. Exact leading metadata is removable, while non-leading or non-matching content remains publishable body content.
+
diff --git a/conductor/tracks/T18-02/verification.md b/conductor/tracks/T18-02/verification.md
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+# Verification T18-02
+
+Pending implementation and hosted CI evidence.
+
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
Expand Up		@@ -90,3 +90,4 @@ Canonical status is evidence-gated by [programme-state.json](./programme-state.j

		## P18 Metadata/body de-duplication correctness
		- [x] T18-01 Metadata/body de-duplication correctness ([#537](https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/537)) ([evidence](./archive/T18-01/index.md))
		- [ ] T18-02 Metadata duplication transport regression matrix ([#544](https://github.com/edithatogo/substack-cli-ts/issues/544))
Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
		@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
		# Verification T18-02

		Pending implementation and hosted CI evidence.