feat(verify): run install in parallel with prompter, off the critical path

[jacsamell]

Splits verify gate into install (parallel with Phase 1 prompter) + check (post-writer, unchanged). Drops install cost off writer's critical path — saves ~1-2 min on v2 monorepo. Legacy cmd still honoured.

Paired v2 PR follows with the cube.yaml change.

Summary

This PR refactors the verify gate into a two-phase model, moving the installation phase off the writer's critical path to save 1–2 minutes on large monorepos.

Key Changes

Configuration (VerifyConfig)

• Splits verify into separate install and check commands
• Adds effective_check property for backwards compatibility with legacy cmd-only configs
• Updated documentation clarifies opt-in behaviour: operators set both install and check to enable the split; legacy setups using only cmd continue working unchanged

Execution Model

• Phase 1 (Prompter): Eagerly creates writer worktrees and starts install commands in parallel via run_install_async, which runs in a thread to avoid blocking the async prompter loop. Logs to .cube/verify-logs/<task>-install-<writer>.log with timeout handling (600s default)
• Phase 2 (Writer): Waits for background install tasks to complete before launching the writer agent, logging warnings for non-zero exits or crashes. Post-commit check command runs the existing verify-and-repair loop unchanged
• Install failures surface to the writer during its first tool call, allowing it to see the issue without re-running install

Plumbing

• WorkflowContext gains install_tasks field to track background installs between phases
• Helper functions: is_install_configured() detects if install is declared, run_install_async() executes installs in parallel
• is_verify_configured() updated to check effective_check callable first
• phase2_run_writers now drains install tasks before starting writers and uses config.verify.effective_check instead of raw cmd

Impact

Eliminates the install cost (typically 30s–2min per monorepo) from the writer's execution window, keeping node_modules warm without blocking feedback loops.

[coderabbitai]

Caution

Review failed

The pull request is closed.

ℹ️ Recent review info

⚙️ Run configuration

Configuration used: Organization UI

Review profile: CHILL

Plan: Pro

Run ID: 356ac014-b642-424d-abec-3dc4612aa8fe

📥 Commits

Reviewing files that changed from the base of the PR and between a2b0ed5 and f887d2d.

📒 Files selected for processing (4)

• python/cube/automation/verify.py
• python/cube/commands/orchestrate/handlers.py
• python/cube/commands/orchestrate/phases_registry.py
• python/cube/core/user_config.py

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Walkthrough

This PR enables concurrent dependency installation during workflow orchestration by extending the verify configuration with separate install and check commands, adding async installation execution helpers, and coordinating Phases 1 and 2 to overlap installation with prompt generation and defer writer execution until installations complete.

Changes

Parallel Dependency Installation Phase

Layer / File(s)	Summary
Verify configuration schema and fallback logic python/cube/core/user_config.py	VerifyConfig gains install and check fields; new effective_check property prefers check when set, otherwise falls back to cmd for legacy compatibility; config loader updated to parse both fields.
Install detection and async execution python/cube/automation/verify.py	New is_install_configured detects non-empty install commands; run_install_async executes install commands concurrently via thread executor, captures output to .cube/verify-logs/<task>-install-<writer>.log, handles timeouts with exit code 124, and returns exit code without raising.
Verify gate detection logic python/cube/automation/verify.py	Updated is_verify_configured to evaluate optional verify.effective_check callable, falling back to checking non-empty verify.check or verify.cmd strings.
Workflow context for install task tracking python/cube/commands/orchestrate/phases_registry.py	Added install_tasks dict field to WorkflowContext to track background installation task futures keyed by writer key across Phase 1/2 lifecycle.
Phase 1/2 coordination for parallel installation python/cube/commands/orchestrate/handlers.py	Phase 1 creates writer worktrees and starts run_install_async tasks concurrently, storing futures on ctx.install_tasks; Phase 2 awaits tasks before launching writers, logs warnings on non-zero exit or exceptions, and clears the task dict; verify command parameter switched from verify.cmd to verify.effective_check.

Estimated code review effort

🎯 3 (Moderate) | ⏱️ ~25 minutes

Possibly related PRs

• aetheronhq/agent-cube#182: Extends deterministic verify gate by adding async verify.install phase and switching to verify.effective_check configuration selection atop the existing verification-loop implementation.
• aetheronhq/agent-cube#181: Both PRs modify verify orchestration pipeline (python/cube/automation/verify.py and handlers), with this PR extending the verify command gate via effective_check and introducing parallel install execution.

Poem

🐰 A writer's worktree, prepared whilst prompts unfold,
Install tasks dancing in threads, swift and bold,
Phase One whispers "go forth," Phase Two awaits,
Then writers leap through the freshly-prepped gates!

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