Configure system Python path once in runner/config.yaml (runner.envs) instead of probing N candidate locations in the workflow. Workflow now fails fast with a clear error if the env is unset or points to a missing file. Document the new env in AGENTS.md.
Reorder candidates to put C:\Program Files\Python314 first (verified install path on the production host). Drop py.exe -3.11 hint to plain -3 since host has only 3.14.
act_runner SYSTEM context may not have py.exe or python.exe in PATH. Try a list of common install paths (C:\Python3XX, Program Files, LocalAppData) and allow override via CI_PYTHON_LAUNCHER env var.
Native stderr from a broken python.exe shim ('No Python at ...') becomes a terminating exception under \Continue='Stop' BEFORE \0 can be read. Wrap the probe in try/catch + SilentlyContinue.
The venv at F:\CI\python\venv may exist but be broken if its pyvenv.cfg points to a deleted base interpreter (e.g. a stale actions/setup-python tool_cache). Detect this by running 'python --version' and rebuild the venv with py.exe -3.11 if it fails.
act_runner runs as SYSTEM and does not have plain 'python' in PATH; use py.exe launcher (-3.11) to bootstrap the venv when missing. The production venv at F:\CI\python\venv normally already exists, so the bootstrap is just a fallback. Also align coverage threshold to 80% (raised in A5, see AGENTS.md).
Update active docs (PhaseA/B checklists, README) after rename of feature/python-rewrite-phase-a -> feature/python-rewrite-and-linux-migration. Historical A1-A5 closeouts left untouched as they document state at the time of writing.
AGENTS.md: new 'Python development' section (venv paths, install/lint/typecheck/test commands, conventions, full PS->Python sub-command mapping, list of PS scripts that stay PowerShell, link to phase closeouts). README.md: expand 'Python orchestrator' with examples for all 10 sub-commands (wait-ready, vm new/remove/cleanup, build run, artifacts collect, monitor disk/runner, report job, job), local validation gates with 80% coverage gate, link to test_agents_errors.py. docs/ARCHITECTURE.md: new 'Python orchestrator (Phase A)' section with package layout tree, VmBackend Protocol contract, load_backend(config) factory, Phase C ESXi extension recipe, transport selection note, and CI validation gates.
12 dedicated tests covering: (#9) clone_linked surfaces 'should not be powered on' as typed BackendError; (#10) is_running uses 'vmrun list' only and never falls back to getGuestIPAddress (incl. on vmrun list failure); (#11) two consecutive 'vm new' invocations with identical inputs MUST produce distinct clone names/destinations (timestamp suffix), guarding the orchestrator-side safety net against the machine-id duplicate-IP failure mode; (#12) SshTransport defaults to paramiko AutoAddPolicy with no known_hosts, never shells out to ssh-keygen/ssh.exe/scp.exe, wraps paramiko import/exec/SFTP errors as TransportConnectError. Coverage: 80.10% (gate 80%).
The composite action now invokes & $venvPython -m ci_orchestrator job ... directly instead of splatting a hashtable into Invoke-CIJob.ps1, removing the only mismatch between the new shim's positional args contract and the action's previous PascalCase splatting. runner/config.yaml exports PYTHONIOENCODING=utf-8 so non-ASCII build output survives the act_runner -> Gitea round-trip.
Phase A4 of plans/implementation-plan-A-B.md. Implements the full job orchestrator (clone -> start -> wait -> probe -> build -> collect -> guaranteed cleanup) as a new commands/job.py click command, registered under python -m ci_orchestrator job. Backend selection goes through backends.load_backend(config) so Phase C can swap in remote drivers without touching the command. The legacy scripts/Invoke-CIJob.ps1 is replaced by a thin PS 5.1 shim that delegates to the Python CLI; tests/python/test_commands_job.py adds 13 cases covering Linux/Windows happy paths, override application, skip-artifact, and cleanup on every failure mode.
A1 items were completed but only A1-closeout.md was updated. Mark all A1 checkboxes done in implementation-plan-A-B.md (master checklist + step-A1 attivita + definizione di fatto), leaving only the real-VM PoC pending (hardware validation deferred).
The runner's act_runner runs as SYSTEM, which only sees the Machine PATH.
Host has Python 3.14 installed at C:\Program Files\Python314\; once that
path is added to the machine PATH (one-time admin op) the simple
Get-Command python lookup works without network downloads.
The act_runner service account doesn't have python in PATH. Delegating
to actions/setup-python@v5 which downloads/caches Python 3.11 reliably.
Also bump timeout-minutes 15 -> 20 to absorb first-run pip install.
Gitea Actions only scans .gitea/workflows/ and .github/workflows/. The
file under gitea/workflows/ (no leading dot) was never picked up. Other
files in gitea/workflows/ remain as templates copied into consumer repos.
- Create a new document `plans/implementation-plan-A-B.md` that consolidates the implementation plans for the Python rewrite (Phase A) and the migration to Linux Mint (Phase B).
- The document includes detailed sections such as executive summary, checklist, prerequisites, step-by-step activities, architectural hooks for future phases, risk matrix, and references.
- Ensure the plan is self-contained, adhering to specified structure and style guidelines, and does not introduce new technologies or modify existing files.
Simone