From 7af153a14ef7aff2903f2479e13639a1d9065bf6 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dylan Trotter <dylan@bitcomplete.io>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2026 00:22:32 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 1/3] stewards: attach a filed GitHub child as a native
 sub-issue (BB-250)

---
 plugins/stewards/config.test.ts           |  8 +++++---
 plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md | 18 ++++++++++++++++++
 plugins/stewards/templates.ts             | 20 +++++++++++++++++---
 3 files changed, 40 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)

diff --git a/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts b/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
index bceaf3e..3065b42 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
@@ -516,9 +516,11 @@ describe("the GitHub issue playbook (BB-234)", () => {
     expect(parsed.value).toMatchObject({ kind: "ticket", source: "github" });
     expect(Object.keys(parsed.value.phases)).toEqual(["open", "status:todo", "status:in-progress", "status:in-review"]);
     expect(parsed.value.terminal).toEqual(["closed", "closed (completed)", "closed (not planned)", "closed (duplicate)"]);
-    // No sub-issue handling: create-sub-issue is not in `may`, and there is no promote rule.
-    expect(parsed.value.may).not.toContain("create-sub-issue");
-    expect(parsed.value.promote).toBeNull();
+    // GitHub sub-issues (BB-250): create-sub-issue is in `may`, the promote rule is set,
+    // and the status:todo phase carries the attach commands.
+    expect(parsed.value.may).toContain("create-sub-issue");
+    expect(parsed.value.promote).toBe("A sub-issue that needs more than one pull request, its own approval, or work in a repo the parent does not touch.");
+    expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:todo")).toContain("sub_issues");
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:in-review")).toMatch(/gh issue\s+close/u);
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "open")).toMatch(/Add `status:todo`/u);
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:in-progress")).toContain("no `Fixes #N`");
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md b/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
index bcc4527..0d44952 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
@@ -318,6 +318,24 @@ Two tools are yours; everything else you do with the tools every thread has.
   reaches it. A report that needs nobody is marked read, so the sidebar's
   unread dot means "needs you"; a report that needs you is left unread.
 
+### Filing a child on GitHub
+
+A GitHub child is attached as a native sub-issue of its parent in the same
+action, so the parent's snapshot lists it. Create the child and read back its
+numeric id, then attach it, keeping a `Part of #{parent}` line in the body
+for a reader:
+
+```
+child=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
+
+…" | grep -oE '[0-9]+$' | xargs -I{} gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{} --jq .id)
+gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$child
+```
+
+`-F` sends the numeric id as an integer. A child missing from the parent's
+next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, not
+re-filed.
+
 ## If you are an ops steward
 
 You watch one production target; the wake is the plugin's look at it (for
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/templates.ts b/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
index 48ef44b..dfe5fc4 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
@@ -178,7 +178,8 @@ ready:
     - public API or contract change
     - estimate >= 3
   approval: project
-may: [comment, edit-description, set-state, set-labels, open-pr, request-review, spawn-worker]
+promote: "A sub-issue that needs more than one pull request, its own approval, or work in a repo the parent does not touch."
+may: [comment, edit-description, set-state, set-labels, create-sub-issue, open-pr, request-review, spawn-worker]
 models:
   steward: claude/claude-sonnet-5-5/medium
   worker: claude/claude-opus-5-5/high
@@ -244,8 +245,21 @@ move the issue to \`status:in-progress\` (remove \`status:todo\`, add
 \`status:in-progress\`). A new spec needs approval again, and is asked for the
 same way.
 
-A GitHub issue has no sub-issues here: do the work in this binding, and open
-one pull request per slice if it needs several.
+A GitHub issue can have native sub-issues, so file a child as a real
+sub-issue of its parent in the same action, keeping a \`Part of #{parent}\`
+line in the body for a reader. Create the child and read back its numeric id,
+then attach it:
+
+\`\`\`
+child=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
+
+…" | grep -oE '[0-9]+$' | xargs -I{} gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{} --jq .id)
+gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$child
+\`\`\`
+
+\`-F\` sends the numeric id as an integer. A child missing from the parent's
+next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, not
+re-filed.
 
 ## status:in-progress
 

From 6e701e084659e414f80dceb3dfc2d033019ca569 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dylan Trotter <dylan@bitcomplete.io>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2026 00:31:35 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 2/3] stewards: keep the GitHub child number and assign it for
 promotion (BB-250)

---
 plugins/stewards/config.test.ts           |  5 ++++-
 plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts            | 14 ++++++++++++++
 plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md | 17 +++++++++--------
 plugins/stewards/templates.ts             | 15 ++++++++-------
 4 files changed, 35 insertions(+), 16 deletions(-)

diff --git a/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts b/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
index 3065b42..2f7071a 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
@@ -520,7 +520,10 @@ describe("the GitHub issue playbook (BB-234)", () => {
     // and the status:todo phase carries the attach commands.
     expect(parsed.value.may).toContain("create-sub-issue");
     expect(parsed.value.promote).toBe("A sub-issue that needs more than one pull request, its own approval, or work in a repo the parent does not touch.");
-    expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:todo")).toContain("sub_issues");
+    const todo = phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:todo")!;
+    expect(todo).toContain("sub_issues");
+    // The child is assigned to this server's login, so a later `bb-managed` promotion can adopt it.
+    expect(todo).toContain("--assignee @me");
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:in-review")).toMatch(/gh issue\s+close/u);
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "open")).toMatch(/Add `status:todo`/u);
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:in-progress")).toContain("no `Fixes #N`");
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts b/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts
index 339f8ac..57c62d2 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts
@@ -46,3 +46,17 @@ describe("the shipped pr-reviewer skill's product ack (BB-207)", () => {
     expect(skill).toMatch(/product ack is of the pull request too/u);
   });
 });
+
+// BB-250: a GitHub ticket steward files a child as a native sub-issue, so the
+// create command assigns it to this server's login (a GitHub issue is adopted
+// only when the login is an assignee) and the attach uses the REST endpoint.
+const stewardsSkill = readFileSync(fileURLToPath(new URL("./skills/stewards/SKILL.md", import.meta.url)), "utf8");
+
+describe("the shipped stewards skill's GitHub child filing (BB-250)", () => {
+  it("carries the create-and-attach commands and assigns the child to this server's login", () => {
+    expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("### Filing a child on GitHub");
+    expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues");
+    expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("--assignee @me");
+    expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("-F sub_issue_id=");
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md b/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
index 0d44952..17215ba 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
@@ -321,20 +321,21 @@ Two tools are yours; everything else you do with the tools every thread has.
 ### Filing a child on GitHub
 
 A GitHub child is attached as a native sub-issue of its parent in the same
-action, so the parent's snapshot lists it. Create the child and read back its
-numeric id, then attach it, keeping a `Part of #{parent}` line in the body
-for a reader:
+action, so the parent's snapshot lists it. Create the child assigned to this
+server's login (so a later `bb-managed` promotion can adopt it), keep its
+number, and attach it, keeping a `Part of #{parent}` line in the body for a
+reader:
 
 ```
-child=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
+n=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
 
-…" | grep -oE '[0-9]+$' | xargs -I{} gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{} --jq .id)
-gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$child
+…" --assignee @me | grep -oE '[0-9]+$')
+gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$(gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/$n --jq .id)
 ```
 
 `-F` sends the numeric id as an integer. A child missing from the parent's
-next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, not
-re-filed.
+next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, using the
+child's number in place of `$n`, not re-filed.
 
 ## If you are an ops steward
 
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/templates.ts b/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
index dfe5fc4..402c530 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
@@ -247,19 +247,20 @@ same way.
 
 A GitHub issue can have native sub-issues, so file a child as a real
 sub-issue of its parent in the same action, keeping a \`Part of #{parent}\`
-line in the body for a reader. Create the child and read back its numeric id,
-then attach it:
+line in the body for a reader. Create the child assigned to this server's
+login (so a later \`bb-managed\` promotion can adopt it), keep its number, and
+attach it:
 
 \`\`\`
-child=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
+n=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
 
-…" | grep -oE '[0-9]+$' | xargs -I{} gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{} --jq .id)
-gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$child
+…" --assignee @me | grep -oE '[0-9]+$')
+gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$(gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/$n --jq .id)
 \`\`\`
 
 \`-F\` sends the numeric id as an integer. A child missing from the parent's
-next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, not
-re-filed.
+next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, using the
+child's number in place of \`$n\`, not re-filed.
 
 ## status:in-progress
 

From 3504f64c8ae38aecaf2b3bba54b4223ecd48461c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Dylan Trotter <dylan@bitcomplete.io>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2026 00:37:13 +0000
Subject: [PATCH 3/3] stewards: print the filed GitHub child's number (BB-250)

---
 plugins/stewards/config.test.ts           | 4 +++-
 plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts            | 1 +
 plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md | 8 +++++---
 plugins/stewards/templates.ts             | 8 +++++---
 4 files changed, 14 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-)

diff --git a/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts b/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
index 2f7071a..d771947 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/config.test.ts
@@ -522,8 +522,10 @@ describe("the GitHub issue playbook (BB-234)", () => {
     expect(parsed.value.promote).toBe("A sub-issue that needs more than one pull request, its own approval, or work in a repo the parent does not touch.");
     const todo = phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:todo")!;
     expect(todo).toContain("sub_issues");
-    // The child is assigned to this server's login, so a later `bb-managed` promotion can adopt it.
+    // The child is assigned to this server's login, so a later `bb-managed` promotion can adopt it,
+    // and its number is printed so the steward can name it and re-attach it later.
     expect(todo).toContain("--assignee @me");
+    expect(todo).toContain('echo "filed child #$n"');
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:in-review")).toMatch(/gh issue\s+close/u);
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "open")).toMatch(/Add `status:todo`/u);
     expect(phaseInstructions(parsed.value, "status:in-progress")).toContain("no `Fixes #N`");
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts b/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts
index 57c62d2..a2a0915 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/skill.test.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ describe("the shipped stewards skill's GitHub child filing (BB-250)", () => {
     expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("### Filing a child on GitHub");
     expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues");
     expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("--assignee @me");
+    expect(stewardsSkill).toContain('echo "filed child #$n"');
     expect(stewardsSkill).toContain("-F sub_issue_id=");
   });
 });
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md b/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
index 17215ba..dd940ab 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
+++ b/plugins/stewards/skills/stewards/SKILL.md
@@ -330,12 +330,14 @@ reader:
 n=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
 
 …" --assignee @me | grep -oE '[0-9]+$')
+echo "filed child #$n"
 gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$(gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/$n --jq .id)
 ```
 
-`-F` sends the numeric id as an integer. A child missing from the parent's
-next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, using the
-child's number in place of `$n`, not re-filed.
+`echo` prints the child's number. `-F` sends the numeric id as an integer. A
+child missing from the parent's next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached
+with the attach command, using the child's number in place of `$n`, not
+re-filed.
 
 ## If you are an ops steward
 
diff --git a/plugins/stewards/templates.ts b/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
index 402c530..cfdae58 100644
--- a/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
+++ b/plugins/stewards/templates.ts
@@ -255,12 +255,14 @@ attach it:
 n=$(gh issue create --repo {owner}/{repo} --title "…" --body "Part of #{parent}
 
 …" --assignee @me | grep -oE '[0-9]+$')
+echo "filed child #$n"
 gh api -X POST repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/{parent}/sub_issues -F sub_issue_id=$(gh api repos/{owner}/{repo}/issues/$n --jq .id)
 \`\`\`
 
-\`-F\` sends the numeric id as an integer. A child missing from the parent's
-next wake under Sub-issues is re-attached with the second command, using the
-child's number in place of \`$n\`, not re-filed.
+\`echo\` prints the child's number. \`-F\` sends the numeric id as an
+integer. A child missing from the parent's next wake under Sub-issues is
+re-attached with the attach command, using the child's number in place of
+\`$n\`, not re-filed.
 
 ## status:in-progress