[Birfy]

Summary

Finishes the Policies consolidation promised when the bundle landed (#804).

• Add BudgetSettings / RuntimeSettings / ObservabilitySettings with flat kwargs as shortcuts (merged_with-style resolve).
• Wire bags into evolve and async_evolve; regenerate docs/api.md.
• Freeze the flat surface with EVOLVE_PARAM_ALLOWLIST + test; document the stable subset in docs/evolution.md, CONTRIBUTING.md, and algorithm-authoring.
• Replace the stale “thirty-five parameters” copy.

Closes #804.

Test plan

• pytest -q tests/test_evolve_settings.py tests/test_async_early_stop.py tests/test_budget.py tests/test_api_docs.py
• python -m tools.gen_api_docs --check

[Birfy]

Verdict: PASS
Tip SHA: 56b27ac
Ran: pytest -q tests/test_evolve_settings.py tests/test_async_early_stop.py tests/test_budget.py tests/test_api_docs.py (all green); python -m tools.gen_api_docs --check (up to date); .github/scripts/risk_gate.py → T3
Not run: full matrix beyond the author's targeted suite (deferred to required CI build + test 3.9–3.13)

Summary

Closes #804 cleanly: folds the post-Policies numeric/flag surface into typed BudgetSettings / RuntimeSettings / ObservabilitySettings, keeps flat kwargs as shortcuts, freezes the sync evolve() signature with EVOLVE_PARAM_ALLOWLIST, and updates the stale “thirty-five parameters” copy across Policies / docs / CONTRIBUTING / algorithm-authoring.

Correctness

• _resolve matches the documented merged_with rule: with no bag, flats (including defaults) populate; with a bag, only non-default flats override. Same intentional limitation as Policies (cannot “clear” a bag field back to its dataclass default via an explicit flat default).
• Sync evolve folds bags once then reassigns locals; async path maps max_iters ↔ max_rollouts and preserves the historical max_seconds=20.0 floor when the resolved value is still None.
• asynchronous=True forwards both folded flats and the original bags so a bag-only caller still works if resolve re-runs — double-resolve stays consistent under the non-default-wins rule.
• Allowlist test locks the public sync surface; stable subset ⊆ allowlist; bag + flat integration tests cover patience / max_rollouts / flat-without-bag paths.

Design fit

Right homes for the knobs: Policies for replaceable pieces, bags for spend/runtime/observability. Docs + CONTRIBUTING tell authors where new knobs go. Public exports and tools/gen_api_docs MODULES/CONSTANTS keep the generated API honest. Changelog fragment present.

Nits (non-blocking)

• Flat surface still grows by three bag kwargs; that is the intended trade for evolve: finish Policies consolidation — 57 top-level kwargs past the documented 35 budget #804, and the allowlist makes further growth deliberate.
• No async_evolve allowlist twin yet — fine for this PR since Spec/MCP/CLI mirror the sync entry; worth a follow-up if async drifts.
• _resolve identity/== on callables/objects is fine for these fields; just be aware mutable defaults are not in play (frozen dataclasses).

Risk

risk_gate → T3 (paths: agentdescent/evolution.py, agentdescent/async_evolve.py, CONTRIBUTING.md). No auto-merge; waiting on Danyang click after required CI green.

[Birfy]

PASS

Tip 556fe4b7400344db44f8b1c293372f8a98e5b658 — Policies consolidation settings bags (#804). risk_gate T3 (evolution.py / async_evolve.py / CONTRIBUTING). Flat kwargs remain shortcuts; EVOLVE_PARAM_ALLOWLIST freezes growth. Ready for Danyang merge click when CI is green.

[Birfy]

Verdict: PASS
Tip SHA: 556fe4b
Ran: re-checked after tip advanced (merge main into fix/804 after #812); pytest -q tests/test_evolve_settings.py tests/test_api_docs.py (green); python -m tools.gen_api_docs --check (up to date); risk_gate → T3
Not run: full 3.9–3.13 matrix (deferred to required CI on this tip)

Note on tip change

Prior PASS was on 56b27ac (bag implementation). Tip is now merge commit 556fe4b bringing main/#812 (MCP Path A) into the branch. Diff vs previous tip is only #812 files — no conflict with Budget/Runtime/Observability bags, allowlist, or evolve wiring. Re-verified bags + allowlist tests on the new tip.

Summary (unchanged intent)

Closes #804: typed settings bags, flat kwargs as shortcuts, EVOLVE_PARAM_ALLOWLIST freeze, docs/CONTRIBUTING/algorithm-authoring updated. Design and correctness notes from the prior tip review still hold.

Risk

risk_gate → T3 (evolution.py, async_evolve.py, CONTRIBUTING.md). No auto-merge; waiting on Danyang click after required CI green on 556fe4b.