[Jammy2211]

Companion to PyAutoLabs/PyAutoBrain#546 (PyAutoLabs/PyAutoBrain#545).

Summary

• scripts/cortex.py birth <key> --local-path … --ral-root … --sync-verbs a,b --summary … appends one row and opens its ledger. With retire, these are now the only commands that write projects.yaml, and birth is the only one that adds a row.
• It refuses:
  • a key or local_path that's already registered;
  • an invalid key;
  • a value holding a double quote, a backslash or a newline (the restricted YAML quotes with no escapes).
• It writes the row in PROJECT_FIELDS order, reads it back comparing every field, and restores projects.yaml on any problem or a failed ledger.
• A birth diff (one row plus projects/<key>.md) is classified as a birth by ledger_merge.py --base, so it lands by itself. Verified on a throwaway clone.
• Docs: AGENTS.md, REFERENCE.md "Birth", schema decision 63.

API Changes

A new cortex.py command, birth. No schema change. 70 tests pass; cortex check: OK.

Heart RED override (development only)

Authorized by the live human on 2026-10-29: "I authorize development only heart override" (for PyAutoBrain#545, after the exact RED reasons were shown). Development ship only: commit, push, PR-open. Merge needs a separate human /prm with every required check green. No release.

Exact RED reasons (pyauto-heart readiness, 2026-10-29):

• PyAutoArray: 4 uncommitted source change(s)
• PyAutoGalaxy: 9 commit(s) behind origin
• PyAutoLens: 7 commit(s) behind origin
• release validation incomplete: no rehearsal for current source
• release push credential check stale (pyautolabs-bot, 49h old)

None of these involves PyAutoBrain or PyAutoCortex. This branch does not fix them.

Passed branch gates: Brain tests/test_cortex_conductor.py 80 passed (3 end-to-end tests skip cleanly against a Cortex without birth); Cortex 70 tests + cortex check: OK; no new lint beyond the file's existing idiom; smoke n/a (organ tooling); independent review FINDINGS, all addressed (below).

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