fix: clear directive flags on decomposition failure + dismiss endpoint

frontend/src/lib/api.ts

@@ -322,6 +322,12 @@ export async function postProjectDirective(id: string, content: string) {
   })
 }
 
+export async function dismissProjectDirective(id: string) {
+  return request<{ ok: boolean }>(`/projects/${id}/directive/dismiss`, {
+    method: "POST",
+  })
+}
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Snapshots, Proposals, Human Requests
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

frontend/src/pages/ProjectDetail.tsx

@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ import {
   reviewAutopilotCycle,
   fetchProjectChat,
   postProjectChat,
+  dismissProjectDirective,
 } from "@/lib/api"
 import type { Snapshot } from "@/lib/api"
 import type {
@@ -1180,6 +1181,40 @@ export default function ProjectDetail() {
             New directive
           </Button>
         </div>
+        {(() => {
+          const activeDir = directives.find((d) => d.sk === project.active_directive_sk)
+          const stuck =
+            project.active_directive_sk &&
+            !project.awaiting_next_directive &&
+            activeDir &&
+            activeDir.task_ids.length === 0
+          if (!stuck) return null
+          return (
+            <div className="mb-4 flex items-center gap-3 rounded-lg border border-amber-500/30 bg-amber-500/5 px-4 py-3 text-[13px] text-amber-300">
+              <AlertTriangle className="size-4 shrink-0 text-amber-400" />
+              <span className="flex-1">
+                Directive decomposition failed — no tasks were created. Autopilot is blocked.
+              </span>
+              <Button
+                variant="outline"
+                size="sm"
+                className="h-7 shrink-0 gap-1.5 border-amber-500/30 text-[12px] text-amber-300 hover:bg-amber-500/10"
+                onClick={async () => {
+                  try {
+                    await dismissProjectDirective(project.id)
+                    toast.success("Directive dismissed — autopilot unblocked")
+                    await load()
+                  } catch {
+                    toast.error("Failed to dismiss directive")
+                  }
+                }}
+              >
+                <XCircle className="size-3.5" />
+                Dismiss
+              </Button>
+            </div>
+          )
+        })()}
         {directives.length === 0 ? (
           <p className="text-sm text-zinc-500">No directives yet.</p>
         ) : (

infra/packages/api/src/routes/projects.ts

@@ -255,6 +255,19 @@ projects.post("/projects/:id/directive", async (c) => {
   return c.json({ ok: true, directive });
 });
 
+// POST /projects/:id/directive/dismiss — clear stuck directive so autopilot can proceed
+projects.post("/projects/:id/directive/dismiss", async (c) => {
+  const p = await db.getProject(c.req.param("id"));
+  if (!p) return c.json({ error: "not found" }, 404);
+  if (!p.active_directive_sk) {
+    return c.json({ error: "no active directive to dismiss" }, 400);
+  }
+  await db.updateProject(p.id, {
+    awaiting_next_directive: true,
+  });
+  return c.json({ ok: true });
+});
+
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // Snapshots
 // ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

src/pipeline.py

@@ -472,6 +472,19 @@ def run_plan_only(store, task):
     return True
 
 
+def _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk):
+    # type: (str, str) -> None
+    """Reset project directive flags so autopilot isn't permanently blocked by a failed decomposition."""
+    try:
+        from .projects_dynamo import update_project
+
+        update_project(project_id, {"awaiting_next_directive": True})
+        log.info("run_directive: cleared directive flags for project %s after failure", project_id)
+        plog(project_id, "directive_failed", "plan", "Decomposition failed for %s" % directive_sk)
+    except Exception:
+        log.exception("run_directive: failed to clear directive flags for project %s", project_id)
+
+
 def run_directive(store, project_id, directive_sk):
     # type: (Any, str, str) -> bool
     """Decompose a project directive into top-level tasks (plan-only style), then dispatch runners."""
@@ -483,10 +496,12 @@ def run_directive(store, project_id, directive_sk):
     proj = get_project(project_id)
     if not proj:
         log.error("run_directive: project %s not found", project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
     ditem = get_directive_item(project_id, directive_sk)
     if not ditem:
         log.error("run_directive: directive %s not found for project %s", directive_sk, project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
 
     spec = (proj.get("spec") or "").strip() or "(no spec)"
@@ -518,31 +533,37 @@ def run_directive(store, project_id, directive_sk):
             )
     except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
         log.warning("run_directive: timed out for project %s", project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
     except Exception:
         log.exception("run_directive: agent error for project %s", project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
 
     if result.returncode != 0:
         log.warning(
             "run_directive: agent failed project %s (exit %d)", project_id, result.returncode
         )
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
 
     text = _extract_agent_text(result.stdout)
     json_match = re.search(r"\[.*\]", text, re.DOTALL)
     if not json_match:
         log.warning("run_directive: no JSON for project %s", project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
 
     try:
         steps = _json.loads(json_match.group())
     except _json.JSONDecodeError:
         log.exception("run_directive: JSON parse error for project %s", project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
 
     if not isinstance(steps, list) or not steps:
         log.warning("run_directive: empty plan for project %s", project_id)
+        _clear_directive_on_failure(project_id, directive_sk)
         return False
 
     spec_excerpt = spec if len(spec) <= 2000 else spec[:2000] + "… (truncated)"