Python Service: Automation PR Idempotence + Safety

Repository: mem-labs/mem

activeUpdated Feb 19, 2026, 8:25 PM

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Automation workflows that create/update PRs must be idempotent and safe.

Rationale:
- Non-idempotent automation creates PR spam and noisy review queues.
- Unvalidated automation increases merge/deploy risk.

Scope:
- PR review policy for workflows/scripts that auto-create or auto-update pull requests.

Trigger:
- A PR adds or changes automation that can push commits and open/edit PRs.

Approval checks:
1) Workflow has an explicit no-change/no-diff exit path.
2) Workflow uses deterministic branch identity and updates existing PRs instead of creating duplicates.
3) Workflow runs relevant validation checks before PR creation/update.

Evidence:
- Workflow/script diff includes no-diff short-circuit and existing-PR update logic.
- Validation commands/jobs are visible before commit/push/create steps.

Exception path:
- Allow deviation only when all are true:
1) PR description includes `Policy Exception: python-automation-pr-safety`.
2) PR explains why non-idempotent behavior is intentionally acceptable.
3) PR documents controls that prevent PR spam and unvalidated changes.

Decision:
- Return NOT APPROVED when trigger is met and checks fail without a valid exception.

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