feat: trust fixes + adoption tooling (priority 1 & 2)

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/add-adopter.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+name: Add my project to Adopters
+description: List your loop setup on the showcase and docs/adopters.md
+title: "Adopter: "
+labels:
+  - docs
+body:
+  - type: markdown
+    value: |
+      Share how you run loops from this repo (or an adaptation). We'll add your project to [docs/adopters.md](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/blob/main/docs/adopters.md) and the [showcase adopters wall](https://cobusgreyling.github.io/loop-engineering/#adopters).
+
+      **Optional:** paste your Loop Ready badge from `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --badge`.
+
+  - type: input
+    id: project
+    attributes:
+      label: Project
+      description: Repo URL or product name
+      placeholder: https://github.com/you/your-repo
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: input
+    id: patterns
+    attributes:
+      label: Pattern(s)
+      description: e.g. Daily Triage + Issue Triage
+      placeholder: daily-triage, issue-triage
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: dropdown
+    id: tool
+    attributes:
+      label: Primary tool
+      options:
+        - Grok
+        - Claude Code
+        - Codex
+        - Cursor
+        - Windsurf
+        - GitHub Actions
+        - Mixed
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: dropdown
+    id: level
+    attributes:
+      label: Readiness level (honest)
+      options:
+        - L1
+        - L2
+        - L3
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: notes
+    attributes:
+      label: One-line notes
+      description: What worked or what broke — failures welcome
+      placeholder: L1 daily triage for 2 weeks; killed CI sweeper after token spike
+    validations:
+      required: true
+
+  - type: textarea
+    id: badge
+    attributes:
+      label: Loop Ready badge (optional)
+      description: Output of `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --badge`
+      render: text
+      placeholder: "[![Loop Ready L2 (58/100)](...)](...)"

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml

@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ contact_links:
   - name: "\ud83d\udc1b Report an issue with the docs site or showcase"
     url: https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/new?labels=docs
     about: "Use the bug report template for the reference itself."
+  - name: "\ud83c\udf10 Add my project to Adopters"
+    url: https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/new?template=add-adopter.yml
+    about: "List your loop on the showcase adopters wall and docs/adopters.md."
 
 labels:
   - name: "pattern-request"

.github/workflows/audit.yml

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
   audit:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/changelog-drafter.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   draft:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
         with:
           fetch-depth: 0
 

.github/workflows/daily-triage.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
   triage:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - name: Record run start
         id: timing
@@ -121,14 +121,27 @@ jobs:
           node scripts/append-run-log.mjs "$ENTRY"
           echo "outcome=${OUTCOME}" >> "$GITHUB_OUTPUT"
 
+      # These run the SAME gates a PR-triggered workflow would. Their outcomes
+      # (not a hardcoded value) drive the commit statuses posted below, so the
+      # loop cannot mark its own change green unless the real gates passed.
       - name: Run validate gates (for PR status)
         id: validate_gates
+        continue-on-error: true
         run: bash scripts/ci-validate-gates.sh
 
       - name: Run audit gates (for PR status)
         id: audit_gates
+        continue-on-error: true
         run: bash scripts/ci-audit-gates.sh
 
+      - name: Fail the run if either gate failed
+        if: steps.validate_gates.outcome == 'failure' || steps.audit_gates.outcome == 'failure'
+        run: |
+          echo "validate gates: ${{ steps.validate_gates.outcome }}"
+          echo "audit gates:    ${{ steps.audit_gates.outcome }}"
+          echo "One or more dogfood gates failed — not opening/merging an automated PR."
+          exit 1
+
       - name: Open PR for STATE.md + loop-run-log if changed
         id: pr
         env:
@@ -186,16 +199,25 @@ jobs:
               core.setFailed('Missing head_sha for commit statuses');
               return;
             }
+            const toState = (outcome) => (outcome === 'success' ? 'success' : 'failure');
             const checks = [
-              { context: 'validate', description: 'Pattern/registry gates (daily-triage inline)' },
-              { context: 'audit', description: 'Loop readiness gates (daily-triage inline)' },
+              {
+                context: 'validate',
+                description: 'Pattern/registry gates (daily-triage inline)',
+                state: toState('${{ steps.validate_gates.outcome }}'),
+              },
+              {
+                context: 'audit',
+                description: 'Loop readiness gates (daily-triage inline)',
+                state: toState('${{ steps.audit_gates.outcome }}'),
+              },
             ];
             for (const check of checks) {
               await github.rest.repos.createCommitStatus({
                 owner: context.repo.owner,
                 repo: context.repo.repo,
                 sha,
-                state: 'success',
+                state: check.state,
                 context: check.context,
                 description: check.description,
                 target_url: `${context.serverUrl}/${context.repo.owner}/${context.repo.repo}/actions/runs/${context.runId}`,

.github/workflows/publish-goal-audit-bootstrap.yml

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
   publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
         with:
           repository: cobusgreyling/goal-engineering
           ref: main

.github/workflows/release-goal-audit.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   test-and-publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/release-loop-audit.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   test-and-publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/release-loop-cost.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   test-and-publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/release-loop-init.yml

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ jobs:
   publish:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

.github/workflows/validate-patterns.yml

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ jobs:
   validate:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@v6
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v7
 
       - uses: actions/setup-node@v6
         with:

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -53,7 +53,8 @@ Also add an entry to `patterns/registry.yaml`.
 ## Community
 
 - **Questions**: [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/discussions) (preferred) or issue with label `question`
-- **Show your loop**: post in Discussions or add a row to [docs/adopters.md](./docs/adopters.md)
+- **Show your loop**: [Add Adopter issue](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/new?template=add-adopter.yml), Discussions, or a row in [docs/adopters.md](./docs/adopters.md)
+- **Loop Ready badge**: `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --badge` — paste into your README
 - **Good first issues**: look for label [`good first issue`](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues?q=is%3Aissue+is%3Aopen+label%3A%22good+first+issue%22)
 - **Security**: see [SECURITY.md](./SECURITY.md) — do not file public issues for exploitable vulnerabilities
 

README.md

@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ A loop is a recursive goal: you define a purpose and the AI iterates (often with
 | [Loop Design Checklist](docs/loop-design-checklist.md) | Ship readiness rubric |
 | [Patterns](patterns/README.md) | 7 production patterns + [interactive picker](https://cobusgreyling.github.io/loop-engineering/#interactive) |
 | [Starters](starters/) | Clone-and-run kits (Grok, Claude Code, Codex) |
-| [loop-audit](tools/loop-audit/) | Loop Readiness Score CLI (v1.4 + activity detection) — `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --suggest` |
+| [loop-audit](tools/loop-audit/) | Loop Readiness Score CLI (v1.4 + activity detection) — `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --suggest` · `--badge` for README |
 | [loop-init](tools/loop-init/) | Scaffold starters + budget/run-log (v1.2) — `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-init . --pattern daily-triage --tool grok` |
 | [loop-cost](tools/loop-cost/) | Token spend estimator — `npx @cobusgreyling/loop-cost` |
 | [Goal Engineering](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/goal-engineering) | Companion: Grok Build `/goal` — run-until-done objectives (`npx @cobusgreyling/goal-audit`) |
@@ -148,6 +148,9 @@ npx @cobusgreyling/loop-cost --pattern daily-triage --level L1
 # 3. Audit readiness (budget + run-log now scored)
 npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --suggest
 
+# Optional: paste Loop Ready badge into your README
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --badge
+
 # 4. See scores climb: empty → L1 → L2
 bash scripts/before-after-demo.sh
 

docs/adopters.md

@@ -2,9 +2,21 @@
 
 Forks and stars mean people are trying this in their own stacks. If you run a loop from this repo (or adapted from it), add yourself here via PR.
 
+## Loop Ready badge
+
+Show your readiness level in your README:
+
+```bash
+npx @cobusgreyling/loop-audit . --badge
+```
+
+Paste the markdown output into your README. Re-run after you graduate L1 → L2 → L3.
+
 ## How to list your project
 
-Open a PR that adds a row to the table below:
+**Fast path:** [open the Add Adopter issue](https://github.com/cobusgreyling/loop-engineering/issues/new?template=add-adopter.yml) — we'll add your row.
+
+Or open a PR that adds a row to the table below:
 
 | Field | What to include |
 |-------|-----------------|

docs/assets/css/showcase.css

@@ -712,4 +712,81 @@ section {
   margin-left: 8px;
 }
 
-.copy-btn:hover { background: rgba(62,232,197,0.2); }
+.copy-btn:hover { background: rgba(62,232,197,0.2); }
+
+/* Adopters */
+.adopters-cta {
+  display: flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  justify-content: space-between;
+  gap: 24px;
+  flex-wrap: wrap;
+  padding: 24px 28px;
+  background: var(--bg-elevated);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: var(--radius);
+  margin-bottom: 28px;
+}
+
+.adopters-cta h3 {
+  font-size: 1.1rem;
+  margin-bottom: 8px;
+}
+
+.adopters-cta p {
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  font-size: 0.9rem;
+  margin-bottom: 10px;
+}
+
+.inline-cmd {
+  display: inline-block;
+  font-family: var(--font-mono);
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  background: var(--bg-card);
+  padding: 6px 10px;
+  border-radius: 6px;
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+}
+
+.adopters-grid {
+  display: grid;
+  grid-template-columns: repeat(auto-fit, minmax(240px, 1fr));
+  gap: 16px;
+}
+
+.adopter-card {
+  padding: 20px;
+  background: var(--bg-elevated);
+  border: 1px solid var(--border);
+  border-radius: var(--radius);
+}
+
+.adopter-card h4 {
+  font-size: 1rem;
+  margin-bottom: 8px;
+}
+
+.adopter-meta {
+  font-size: 0.8rem;
+  color: var(--accent-2);
+  margin-bottom: 10px;
+}
+
+.adopter-note {
+  font-size: 0.85rem;
+  color: var(--text-muted);
+  line-height: 1.5;
+}
+
+.adopter-placeholder {
+  border-style: dashed;
+  display: flex;
+  flex-direction: column;
+  gap: 8px;
+}
+
+.adopter-placeholder .btn {
+  align-self: flex-start;
+  margin-top: 4px;
+}