ci(tracker): allow labelled standalone pull requests

docs/decisions/0005-issues-own-tracker-metadata.md

@@ -4,6 +4,10 @@
 - **Date:** 2026-07-18
 - **Deciders:** didericis
 
+> **Amended 2026-07-26.** A pull request may carry labels directly instead of
+> linking a tracking issue. When a PR does link an issue, the issue remains the
+> canonical owner of planning metadata and the reference is validated.
+
 ## Context
 
 Gitea exposes labels on both issues and pull requests. Applying the same labels
@@ -20,19 +24,28 @@ would make the issue history less truthful.
 
 ## Decision
 
-Issues are the canonical tracker records and own labels. Every issue has at
+Issues are the canonical tracker records and own labels when a separate work
-least one label. An issue opened or left without labels receives
+item exists. Every issue has at least one label. An issue opened or left
-`Status/Needs Triage` automatically until it is classified.
+without labels receives `Status/Needs Triage` automatically until it is
+classified.
 
-Pull requests carry no labels. Every new PR deliberately references at least
+Every new pull request is tracked in one of two ways:
-one existing issue in its title or description with one of these forms:
+
+1. It deliberately references at least one existing issue in its title or
+   description. Tracker metadata stays on that issue and the PR remains
+   unlabelled.
+2. It carries at least one label directly when a separate issue would add no
+   useful planning context.
+
+Issue references use one of these forms:
 
 - `Closes #123`, `Fixes #123`, or `Resolves #123` when merging completes it.
 - `Part of #123`, `Related to #123`, `Refs #123`, or `References #123` when it
   contributes without completing it.
 
-Gitea Actions enforces both PR rules as a status check and repairs the empty
+Gitea Actions enforces the either/or PR rule, validates any issue references,
-issue-label state. Branch protection makes the PR policy check required.
+and repairs the empty issue-label state. Branch protection makes the PR policy
+check required.
 
 The policy applies from 2026-07-18 onward. Existing issues may be labelled as
 they are encountered, but closed PRs are grandfathered: no retrospective
@@ -40,9 +53,13 @@ issues or PR labels are created solely to make history conform.
 
 ## Consequences
 
-- Classification, priority, and workflow metadata have one source of truth.
+- Classification, priority, and workflow metadata have one source of truth for
-- A PR's issue link is the navigation path to its planning metadata.
+  each change: the linked issue when one exists, otherwise the PR.
+- For issue-backed changes, the PR's issue link is the navigation path to its
+  planning metadata.
 - Multi-PR issues do not require copied or synchronized labels.
+- Small standalone changes do not require a tracking issue created solely to
+  satisfy automation.
 - `Status/Needs Triage` is an intentional fallback, not a final
   classification.
 - Direct issue creation remains convenient; automation repairs a missing label

scripts/tracker_policy.py

@@ -54,18 +54,14 @@ def check_pull_request(event: dict[str, Any], api: GiteaApi) -> list[str]:
     pull = event["pull_request"]
     errors: list[str] = []
     labels = pull.get("labels") or []
-    if labels:
-        errors.append(
-            "PRs must be unlabeled; put tracker metadata on the linked issue "
-            f"(found: {', '.join(label['name'] for label in labels)})."
-        )
-
     numbers = deliberate_issue_numbers(pull.get("title", ""), pull.get("body", ""))
     if not numbers:
-        errors.append(
+        if not labels:
-            "PR must reference an issue with Closes/Fixes/Resolves #N, "
+            errors.append(
-            "Part of #N, Related to #N, Refs #N, or References #N."
+                "PR must either have a label or reference an issue with "
-        )
+                "Closes/Fixes/Resolves #N, Part of #N, Related to #N, "
+                "Refs #N, or References #N."
+            )
         return errors
 
     real_issues = 0

tests/unit/test_tracker_policy.py

@@ -27,7 +27,27 @@ class TestCheckPullRequest(unittest.TestCase):
         event = {"pull_request": {"title": "Change", "body": "Part of #12", "labels": []}}
         self.assertEqual(check_pull_request(event, api), [])
 
-    def test_rejects_labels_and_pr_reference(self):
+    def test_accepts_labelled_pr_without_issue(self):
+        api = Mock()
+        event = {
+            "pull_request": {
+                "title": "Change",
+                "body": "",
+                "labels": [{"name": "Kind/Documentation"}],
+            }
+        }
+        self.assertEqual(check_pull_request(event, api), [])
+        api.request.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_rejects_unlabelled_pr_without_issue(self):
+        api = Mock()
+        event = {"pull_request": {"title": "Change", "body": "", "labels": []}}
+        errors = check_pull_request(event, api)
+        self.assertEqual(len(errors), 1)
+        self.assertIn("either have a label or reference an issue", errors[0])
+        api.request.assert_not_called()
+
+    def test_validates_issue_reference_even_when_pr_is_labelled(self):
         api = Mock()
         api.request.return_value = {"number": 12, "pull_request": {}}
         event = {
@@ -38,9 +58,8 @@ class TestCheckPullRequest(unittest.TestCase):
             }
         }
         errors = check_pull_request(event, api)
-        self.assertEqual(len(errors), 2)
+        self.assertEqual(len(errors), 1)
-        self.assertIn("unlabeled", errors[0])
+        self.assertIn("not an issue", errors[0])
-        self.assertIn("not an issue", errors[1])
 
 
 class TestEnsureIssueLabel(unittest.TestCase):