feat(prompts): implement Phase 7 - Quality & Validation (FR-9, FR-10)

Add quality gate framework with schema validation (JSON Schema via
jsonschema library), pattern validation (regex-based), multi-gate
QualityValidator with SQLite persistence, HaltingPolicyEngine with
budget/iteration/improvement checks, and RefinementLoop for iterative
execute-validate-halt cycles.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

tests/integration/prompts/test_halting_execution.py

@@ -0,0 +1,239 @@
+"""
+Integration tests for halting execution with refinement loop.
+
+Tests the full execute → validate → halt or refine cycle with
+real quality gates and persistence.
+"""
+
+import json
+import pytest
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from markitect.prompts.models import Artifact, ArtifactType
+from markitect.prompts.repositories.sqlite import SQLiteArtifactRepository
+from markitect.prompts.quality.models import (
+    HaltDecision,
+    QualityPolicy,
+    ValidationStatus,
+)
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.pattern_gate import PatternValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.schema_gate import SchemaValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.validator import QualityValidator
+from markitect.prompts.quality.refinement import RefinementLoop
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def temp_db():
+    """Create temporary database for testing."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".db", delete=False) as f:
+        db_path = f.name
+    yield db_path
+    Path(db_path).unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def artifact_repo(temp_db):
+    """Create artifact repository."""
+    return SQLiteArtifactRepository(temp_db)
+
+
+class TestImmediateQualityMet:
+    """Tests where quality is met on the first iteration."""
+
+    def test_single_iteration_success(self, temp_db):
+        """Test refinement completes in one iteration when quality is met."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary", r"## Conclusion"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (
+                f"run-{iteration}",
+                "## Summary\nOverview.\n## Conclusion\nDone.",
+                "art-1",
+            )
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 1
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+        assert len(result.final_results) == 1
+        assert result.final_results[0].status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+        # Verify results persisted
+        persisted = validator.get_results_for_run("run-1")
+        assert len(persisted) == 1
+
+
+class TestIterativeRefinement:
+    """Tests for iterative refinement improving quality."""
+
+    def test_progressive_improvement(self, temp_db):
+        """Test refinement improves content over iterations."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary", r"## Details", r"## Conclusion"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        versions = [
+            "## Summary\nBasic.",  # iter 1: missing 2 patterns
+            "## Summary\n## Details\nBetter.",  # iter 2: missing 1 pattern
+            "## Summary\n## Details\n## Conclusion\nComplete.",  # iter 3: all pass
+        ]
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            content = versions[min(iteration - 1, len(versions) - 1)]
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", content, "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 3
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+        assert len(result.all_results) == 3
+
+        # Verify all iterations persisted
+        for i in range(1, 4):
+            persisted = validator.get_results_for_run(f"run-{i}")
+            assert len(persisted) == 1
+
+
+class TestIterationLimit:
+    """Tests for hitting iteration limits."""
+
+    def test_never_meets_quality(self, temp_db):
+        """Test refinement stops at iteration limit when quality never met."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"NEVER_MATCHES_XYZ123"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3, min_improvement=0.0)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "always insufficient", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 3
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_ITERATION_LIMIT
+        assert len(result.run_ids) == 3
+
+
+class TestBudgetExhaustion:
+    """Tests for resource budget exhaustion."""
+
+    def test_budget_limits_iterations(self, temp_db):
+        """Test budget exhaustion stops refinement."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"UNREACHABLE"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, resource_budget=2)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "content", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 2
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_BUDGET_EXHAUSTED
+
+
+class TestMultiGateRefinement:
+    """Tests for refinement with multiple quality gates."""
+
+    def test_all_gates_must_pass(self, temp_db):
+        """Test refinement continues until all gates pass."""
+        gate_a = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary"],
+            gate_id="gate-a",
+        )
+        gate_b = PatternValidationGate(
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"TODO"],
+            gate_id="gate-b",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate_a, gate_b], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        versions = [
+            "## Summary\nTODO: finish this",  # gate-a pass, gate-b fail
+            "## Summary\nAll clean content.",  # both pass
+        ]
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            content = versions[min(iteration - 1, len(versions) - 1)]
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", content, "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 2
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+
+
+class TestRefinementWithSchemaGate:
+    """Tests for refinement with schema validation gates."""
+
+    def test_json_refinement(self, temp_db):
+        """Test refining JSON content to pass schema validation."""
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["title", "version", "sections"],
+            "properties": {
+                "title": {"type": "string"},
+                "version": {"type": "integer"},
+                "sections": {"type": "array"},
+            },
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema, gate_id="schema-1")
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        versions = [
+            json.dumps({"title": "Doc"}),  # missing version & sections
+            json.dumps({"title": "Doc", "version": 1}),  # missing sections
+            json.dumps({"title": "Doc", "version": 1, "sections": []}),  # complete
+        ]
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            content = versions[min(iteration - 1, len(versions) - 1)]
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", content, "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 3
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+
+
+class TestResultSerialization:
+    """Tests for RefinementResult serialization."""
+
+    def test_result_to_dict(self, temp_db):
+        """Test RefinementResult can be serialized."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(gate_id="gate-1")
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=1)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def execute(iteration, prev_results):
+            return ("run-1", "content", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(execute, "art-1")
+        d = result.to_dict()
+
+        assert isinstance(d, dict)
+        assert "iterations_run" in d
+        assert "halting_record" in d
+        assert "run_ids" in d

tests/integration/prompts/test_quality_validation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+"""
+Integration tests for full quality validation workflow.
+
+Tests applying quality gates to artifacts with real DB persistence,
+manifest integration, and multi-gate validation.
+"""
+
+import json
+import pytest
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from markitect.prompts.models import Artifact, ArtifactType
+from markitect.prompts.repositories.sqlite import SQLiteArtifactRepository
+from markitect.prompts.quality.models import (
+    GateType,
+    ValidationStatus,
+)
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.schema_gate import SchemaValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.pattern_gate import PatternValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.validator import QualityValidator
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def temp_db():
+    """Create temporary database for testing."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".db", delete=False) as f:
+        db_path = f.name
+    yield db_path
+    Path(db_path).unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def artifact_repo(temp_db):
+    """Create artifact repository."""
+    return SQLiteArtifactRepository(temp_db)
+
+
+def _create_artifact(repo, name, content, art_type=ArtifactType.GENERATED):
+    """Helper to create and persist an artifact."""
+    artifact = Artifact.create(
+        space_id="space-1",
+        name=name,
+        content=content,
+        artifact_type=art_type,
+    )
+    return repo.create(artifact)
+
+
+class TestSchemaValidationWorkflow:
+    """Full schema validation workflow with real DB."""
+
+    def test_validate_json_artifact_passes(self, temp_db, artifact_repo):
+        """Test validating a valid JSON artifact."""
+        content = json.dumps({
+            "name": "API Spec",
+            "version": 1,
+            "endpoints": ["/users", "/auth"],
+        })
+        artifact = _create_artifact(artifact_repo, "api-spec", content)
+
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["name", "version", "endpoints"],
+            "properties": {
+                "name": {"type": "string"},
+                "version": {"type": "integer"},
+                "endpoints": {"type": "array", "items": {"type": "string"}},
+            },
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema, gate_id="schema-api")
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            content, artifact.id, run_id="run-1"
+        )
+
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0].status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+        # Verify persisted
+        persisted = validator.get_results_for_run("run-1")
+        assert len(persisted) == 1
+        assert persisted[0]["status"] == "pass"
+
+    def test_validate_json_artifact_fails(self, temp_db, artifact_repo):
+        """Test validating an invalid JSON artifact."""
+        content = json.dumps({"name": "Incomplete"})
+        artifact = _create_artifact(artifact_repo, "bad-spec", content)
+
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["name", "version"],
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema, gate_id="schema-strict")
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            content, artifact.id, run_id="run-2"
+        )
+
+        assert results[0].status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert len(results[0].diagnostics) > 0
+
+        persisted = validator.get_results_for_run("run-2")
+        assert persisted[0]["status"] == "fail"
+
+
+class TestPatternValidationWorkflow:
+    """Full pattern validation workflow with real DB."""
+
+    def test_validate_markdown_artifact(self, temp_db, artifact_repo):
+        """Test validating a markdown artifact against patterns."""
+        content = "# API Documentation\n## Endpoints\n### Authentication\nOAuth2 flow."
+        artifact = _create_artifact(artifact_repo, "api-docs", content)
+
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Endpoints", r"### Authentication"],
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"TODO", r"FIXME"],
+            gate_id="pattern-api",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            content, artifact.id, run_id="run-3"
+        )
+
+        assert results[0].status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+    def test_forbidden_pattern_detected(self, temp_db, artifact_repo):
+        """Test that forbidden patterns are caught."""
+        content = "# Draft\n## Endpoints\nTODO: Add authentication."
+        artifact = _create_artifact(artifact_repo, "draft-docs", content)
+
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Endpoints"],
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"TODO"],
+            gate_id="pattern-clean",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            content, artifact.id, run_id="run-4"
+        )
+
+        assert results[0].status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+
+
+class TestMultiGateWorkflow:
+    """Tests applying multiple gates in a single validation."""
+
+    def test_multi_gate_validation(self, temp_db, artifact_repo):
+        """Test applying schema + pattern gates to an artifact."""
+        content = json.dumps({
+            "title": "Design Doc",
+            "sections": ["## Overview", "## Details"],
+        })
+        artifact = _create_artifact(artifact_repo, "design-doc", content)
+
+        schema_gate = SchemaValidationGate(
+            schema={
+                "type": "object",
+                "required": ["title", "sections"],
+            },
+            gate_id="schema-doc",
+        )
+        pattern_gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"FIXME"],
+            gate_id="pattern-clean",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(
+            gates=[schema_gate, pattern_gate],
+            db_path=temp_db,
+        )
+
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            content, artifact.id, run_id="run-5"
+        )
+
+        assert len(results) == 2
+        assert all(r.status == ValidationStatus.PASS for r in results)
+
+        # Check manifest dict
+        manifest = validator.results_to_manifest_dict(results)
+        assert manifest["all_passed"] is True
+        assert manifest["aggregate_score"] == 1.0
+
+        # Verify all persisted
+        persisted = validator.get_results_for_run("run-5")
+        assert len(persisted) == 2
+
+    def test_retrieve_by_artifact(self, temp_db, artifact_repo):
+        """Test retrieving results by artifact across multiple runs."""
+        content = json.dumps({"name": "test"})
+        artifact = _create_artifact(artifact_repo, "test-art", content)
+
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(
+            schema={"type": "object", "required": ["name"]},
+            gate_id="schema-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        # Validate across two runs
+        validator.validate_artifact(content, artifact.id, run_id="run-a")
+        validator.validate_artifact(content, artifact.id, run_id="run-b")
+
+        results = validator.get_results_for_artifact(artifact.id)
+        assert len(results) == 2

tests/unit/prompts/test_halting_policy.py

@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+"""
+Unit tests for HaltingPolicyEngine.
+
+Tests halting decisions based on quality results, iteration limits,
+marginal improvement, and resource budgets.
+"""
+
+import pytest
+
+from markitect.prompts.quality.models import (
+    GateType,
+    HaltDecision,
+    QualityPolicy,
+    ValidationResult,
+    ValidationStatus,
+)
+from markitect.prompts.quality.policy import HaltingPolicyEngine
+
+
+def _make_result(status=ValidationStatus.PASS, score=1.0, gate_id="gate-1"):
+    """Helper to create a ValidationResult."""
+    return ValidationResult.create(
+        gate_id=gate_id,
+        gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+        artifact_id="art-1",
+        status=status,
+        score=score,
+    )
+
+
+class TestQualityMetDecision:
+    """Tests for quality met halting."""
+
+    def test_all_pass_halts_quality_met(self):
+        """Test all gates passing triggers quality met halt."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.PASS, 1.0)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+        assert "quality gates passed" in record.reason.lower()
+
+    def test_required_gates_all_pass(self):
+        """Test required gates all passing triggers quality met."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(
+            max_iterations=5,
+            required_gate_ids=["required-gate"],
+        )
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [
+            _make_result(ValidationStatus.PASS, 1.0, gate_id="required-gate"),
+            _make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5, gate_id="optional-gate"),
+        ]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+
+    def test_required_gate_fails_continues(self):
+        """Test required gate failing allows continuation."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(
+            max_iterations=5,
+            required_gate_ids=["required-gate"],
+        )
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [
+            _make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5, gate_id="required-gate"),
+        ]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.CONTINUE
+
+
+class TestIterationLimitDecision:
+    """Tests for iteration limit halting."""
+
+    def test_at_iteration_limit(self):
+        """Test halting at iteration limit."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=3)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_ITERATION_LIMIT
+        assert record.iteration == 3
+
+    def test_before_iteration_limit(self):
+        """Test not halting before iteration limit."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=2)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.CONTINUE
+
+
+class TestBudgetExhaustedDecision:
+    """Tests for resource budget exhaustion."""
+
+    def test_budget_exhausted(self):
+        """Test halting when budget is exhausted."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, resource_budget=5)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1, total_runs=5)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_BUDGET_EXHAUSTED
+
+    def test_budget_not_exhausted(self):
+        """Test not halting when budget remains."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, resource_budget=10)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1, total_runs=3)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.CONTINUE
+
+
+class TestMarginalImprovementDecision:
+    """Tests for marginal improvement halting."""
+
+    def test_no_improvement_halts(self):
+        """Test halting when improvement is below threshold."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, min_improvement=0.05)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.52)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(
+            results,
+            iteration=2,
+            score_history=[0.50],  # improvement: 0.02 < 0.05
+        )
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_NO_IMPROVEMENT
+
+    def test_sufficient_improvement_continues(self):
+        """Test continuing when improvement meets threshold."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, min_improvement=0.05)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.60)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(
+            results,
+            iteration=2,
+            score_history=[0.50],  # improvement: 0.10 >= 0.05
+        )
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.CONTINUE
+
+    def test_first_iteration_no_history(self):
+        """Test first iteration with no history continues."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, min_improvement=0.05)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.50)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.CONTINUE
+
+
+class TestPriorityOrder:
+    """Tests for the priority order of halting checks."""
+
+    def test_budget_checked_before_iteration(self):
+        """Test budget exhaustion takes priority over iteration limit."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3, resource_budget=2)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.FAIL, 0.5)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=3, total_runs=2)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_BUDGET_EXHAUSTED
+
+    def test_iteration_checked_before_quality(self):
+        """Test iteration limit checked before quality met."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=2)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.PASS, 1.0)]
+        # At iteration limit AND quality met — iteration limit wins
+        # Actually quality is checked after iteration, so quality would be checked
+        # But iteration 2 >= max 2 triggers first
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=2)
+
+        assert record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_ITERATION_LIMIT
+
+
+class TestHaltingRecord:
+    """Tests for HaltingRecord attributes."""
+
+    def test_record_has_scores(self):
+        """Test halting record includes score history."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.PASS, 0.9)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(
+            results, iteration=2, score_history=[0.5]
+        )
+
+        assert record.scores == [0.5, 0.9]
+
+    def test_record_to_dict(self):
+        """Test halting record serialization."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3)
+        engine = HaltingPolicyEngine(policy)
+
+        results = [_make_result(ValidationStatus.PASS, 1.0)]
+        record = engine.evaluate(results, iteration=1)
+
+        d = record.to_dict()
+        assert d["decision"] == "halted_quality_met"
+        assert d["iteration"] == 1
+        assert d["max_iterations"] == 3

tests/unit/prompts/test_quality_gates.py

@@ -0,0 +1,303 @@
+"""
+Unit tests for quality gate models and individual gate implementations.
+
+Tests QualityGate models, SchemaValidationGate, and PatternValidationGate.
+"""
+
+import json
+import pytest
+
+from markitect.prompts.quality.models import (
+    GateType,
+    ValidationStatus,
+    ValidationDiagnostic,
+    ValidationResult,
+    QualityPolicy,
+    HaltDecision,
+    HaltingRecord,
+)
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.schema_gate import SchemaValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.pattern_gate import PatternValidationGate
+
+
+class TestValidationDiagnostic:
+    """Tests for ValidationDiagnostic."""
+
+    def test_create_diagnostic(self):
+        """Test creating a diagnostic."""
+        diag = ValidationDiagnostic(
+            code="TEST_ERROR",
+            message="Something went wrong",
+            severity="error",
+        )
+        assert diag.code == "TEST_ERROR"
+        assert diag.severity == "error"
+
+    def test_to_dict(self):
+        """Test diagnostic serialization."""
+        diag = ValidationDiagnostic(code="E1", message="msg", severity="warning")
+        d = diag.to_dict()
+        assert d["code"] == "E1"
+        assert d["severity"] == "warning"
+
+    def test_from_dict(self):
+        """Test diagnostic deserialization."""
+        data = {"code": "E1", "message": "msg", "severity": "info"}
+        diag = ValidationDiagnostic.from_dict(data)
+        assert diag.code == "E1"
+        assert diag.severity == "info"
+
+
+class TestValidationResult:
+    """Tests for ValidationResult."""
+
+    def test_create_result(self):
+        """Test creating a validation result."""
+        result = ValidationResult.create(
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+            gate_type=GateType.SCHEMA,
+            artifact_id="art-1",
+            status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+            score=1.0,
+        )
+        assert result.gate_id == "gate-1"
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+        assert result.score == 1.0
+
+    def test_result_unique_ids(self):
+        """Test that each result gets a unique ID."""
+        r1 = ValidationResult.create(
+            gate_id="g", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+            artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+        )
+        r2 = ValidationResult.create(
+            gate_id="g", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+            artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+        )
+        assert r1.id != r2.id
+
+    def test_to_dict_from_dict(self):
+        """Test round-trip serialization."""
+        result = ValidationResult.create(
+            gate_id="g1",
+            gate_type=GateType.SCHEMA,
+            artifact_id="a1",
+            status=ValidationStatus.FAIL,
+            score=0.5,
+            diagnostics=[
+                ValidationDiagnostic(code="E1", message="err", severity="error"),
+            ],
+        )
+        d = result.to_dict()
+        restored = ValidationResult.from_dict(d)
+        assert restored.id == result.id
+        assert restored.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert restored.score == 0.5
+        assert len(restored.diagnostics) == 1
+
+
+class TestQualityPolicy:
+    """Tests for QualityPolicy."""
+
+    def test_default_policy(self):
+        """Test default policy values."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy()
+        assert policy.max_iterations == 3
+        assert policy.min_improvement == 0.05
+        assert policy.fail_on_gate_failure is True
+        assert policy.resource_budget == 10
+
+    def test_to_dict_from_dict(self):
+        """Test round-trip serialization."""
+        policy = QualityPolicy(
+            max_iterations=5,
+            min_improvement=0.1,
+            required_gate_ids=["g1", "g2"],
+        )
+        d = policy.to_dict()
+        restored = QualityPolicy.from_dict(d)
+        assert restored.max_iterations == 5
+        assert restored.min_improvement == 0.1
+        assert restored.required_gate_ids == ["g1", "g2"]
+
+
+class TestSchemaValidationGate:
+    """Tests for SchemaValidationGate."""
+
+    def test_valid_json_passes(self):
+        """Test valid JSON against schema passes."""
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["name", "version"],
+            "properties": {
+                "name": {"type": "string"},
+                "version": {"type": "integer"},
+            },
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema, name="test-schema")
+        content = json.dumps({"name": "test", "version": 1})
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+        assert result.score == 1.0
+        assert len(result.diagnostics) == 0
+
+    def test_missing_required_field_fails(self):
+        """Test missing required field fails validation."""
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["name", "version"],
+            "properties": {
+                "name": {"type": "string"},
+                "version": {"type": "integer"},
+            },
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema)
+        content = json.dumps({"name": "test"})
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert any(d.code == "SCHEMA_VIOLATION" for d in result.diagnostics)
+
+    def test_wrong_type_fails(self):
+        """Test wrong type fails validation."""
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "properties": {
+                "count": {"type": "integer"},
+            },
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema)
+        content = json.dumps({"count": "not-a-number"})
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+
+    def test_invalid_json_fails(self):
+        """Test invalid JSON content fails."""
+        schema = {"type": "object"}
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema)
+
+        result = gate.validate("not json {{{", "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert result.score == 0.0
+        assert any(d.code == "INVALID_JSON" for d in result.diagnostics)
+
+    def test_gate_has_correct_type(self):
+        """Test gate type is SCHEMA."""
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema={"type": "object"})
+        assert gate.gate_type == GateType.SCHEMA
+
+    def test_empty_schema_passes_any_object(self):
+        """Test empty schema passes any valid JSON."""
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema={})
+        result = gate.validate(json.dumps({"any": "thing"}), "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+    def test_score_reflects_error_count(self):
+        """Test that score decreases with more errors."""
+        schema = {
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["a", "b", "c"],
+            "properties": {
+                "a": {"type": "string"},
+                "b": {"type": "string"},
+                "c": {"type": "string"},
+            },
+        }
+        gate = SchemaValidationGate(schema=schema)
+
+        # Missing all 3 required fields
+        result = gate.validate(json.dumps({}), "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert result.score < 1.0
+
+
+class TestPatternValidationGate:
+    """Tests for PatternValidationGate."""
+
+    def test_required_pattern_present(self):
+        """Test content with required patterns passes."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Endpoints", r"### Authentication"],
+        )
+        content = "# API\n## Endpoints\n### Authentication\nDetails here."
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+        assert result.score == 1.0
+
+    def test_required_pattern_missing(self):
+        """Test missing required pattern fails."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Endpoints", r"### Authentication"],
+        )
+        content = "# API\n## Endpoints\nNo auth section."
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert any(d.code == "MISSING_PATTERN" for d in result.diagnostics)
+
+    def test_forbidden_pattern_absent(self):
+        """Test content without forbidden patterns passes."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"TODO", r"FIXME"],
+        )
+        content = "This is a clean document."
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+    def test_forbidden_pattern_present(self):
+        """Test content with forbidden pattern fails."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"TODO", r"FIXME"],
+        )
+        content = "This needs work. TODO: fix this."
+
+        result = gate.validate(content, "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert any(d.code == "FORBIDDEN_PATTERN" for d in result.diagnostics)
+
+    def test_combined_required_and_forbidden(self):
+        """Test both required and forbidden patterns together."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary"],
+            forbidden_patterns=[r"FIXME"],
+        )
+        # Has required, no forbidden
+        result1 = gate.validate("## Summary\nAll good.", "art-1")
+        assert result1.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+        # Has required AND forbidden
+        result2 = gate.validate("## Summary\nFIXME: broken.", "art-1")
+        assert result2.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+
+    def test_no_patterns_passes(self):
+        """Test gate with no patterns always passes."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate()
+        result = gate.validate("anything", "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+    def test_gate_has_correct_type(self):
+        """Test gate type is PATTERN."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate()
+        assert gate.gate_type == GateType.PATTERN
+
+    def test_score_proportional_to_failures(self):
+        """Test score is proportional to number of checks passed."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"A", r"B", r"C", r"D"],
+        )
+        # Only A is present → 3 out of 4 fail
+        result = gate.validate("A", "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+        assert 0.0 < result.score < 1.0
+
+    def test_regex_pattern_matching(self):
+        """Test regex patterns work correctly."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"\d{3}-\d{4}"],
+        )
+        result = gate.validate("Call 555-1234 for info", "art-1")
+        assert result.status == ValidationStatus.PASS

tests/unit/prompts/test_quality_validator.py

@@ -0,0 +1,264 @@
+"""
+Unit tests for QualityValidator.
+
+Tests applying multiple gates, aggregating results, and persistence.
+"""
+
+import json
+import pytest
+import tempfile
+from pathlib import Path
+
+from markitect.prompts.quality.models import (
+    GateType,
+    ValidationStatus,
+    ValidationResult,
+)
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.schema_gate import SchemaValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.pattern_gate import PatternValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.validator import QualityValidator
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def temp_db():
+    """Create temporary database for testing."""
+    with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(suffix=".db", delete=False) as f:
+        db_path = f.name
+    yield db_path
+    Path(db_path).unlink(missing_ok=True)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def schema_gate():
+    """Create a simple schema gate."""
+    return SchemaValidationGate(
+        schema={
+            "type": "object",
+            "required": ["name"],
+            "properties": {"name": {"type": "string"}},
+        },
+        gate_id="schema-gate-1",
+        name="test-schema",
+    )
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def pattern_gate():
+    """Create a simple pattern gate."""
+    return PatternValidationGate(
+        required_patterns=[r"## Summary"],
+        forbidden_patterns=[r"TODO"],
+        gate_id="pattern-gate-1",
+        name="test-pattern",
+    )
+
+
+class TestValidateArtifact:
+    """Tests for validating artifacts with multiple gates."""
+
+    def test_all_gates_pass(self, schema_gate, pattern_gate):
+        """Test all gates passing."""
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[schema_gate, pattern_gate])
+
+        # Content that satisfies both gates (JSON for schema, text for pattern)
+        # Schema gate needs JSON, pattern gate needs text patterns
+        # Use separate validators for different content types
+        schema_validator = QualityValidator(gates=[schema_gate])
+        results = schema_validator.validate_artifact(
+            json.dumps({"name": "test"}), "art-1"
+        )
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0].status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+    def test_pattern_gate_validates(self, pattern_gate):
+        """Test pattern gate validation."""
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[pattern_gate])
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            "## Summary\nAll good here.", "art-1"
+        )
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0].status == ValidationStatus.PASS
+
+    def test_multiple_gates_mixed_results(self, pattern_gate):
+        """Test multiple gates with mixed pass/fail."""
+        gate_a = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary"],
+            gate_id="gate-a",
+        )
+        gate_b = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Missing Section"],
+            gate_id="gate-b",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate_a, gate_b])
+
+        results = validator.validate_artifact("## Summary\nContent.", "art-1")
+        assert len(results) == 2
+        statuses = {r.gate_id: r.status for r in results}
+        assert statuses["gate-a"] == ValidationStatus.PASS
+        assert statuses["gate-b"] == ValidationStatus.FAIL
+
+    def test_no_gates_returns_empty(self):
+        """Test validator with no gates returns empty list."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = validator.validate_artifact("content", "art-1")
+        assert results == []
+
+
+class TestAllPassed:
+    """Tests for the all_passed helper."""
+
+    def test_all_pass(self):
+        """Test all_passed returns True when all pass."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = [
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g1", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+            ),
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g2", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+            ),
+        ]
+        assert validator.all_passed(results) is True
+
+    def test_one_fails(self):
+        """Test all_passed returns False when one fails."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = [
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g1", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+            ),
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g2", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.FAIL,
+            ),
+        ]
+        assert validator.all_passed(results) is False
+
+    def test_empty_results(self):
+        """Test all_passed with empty list returns True."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        assert validator.all_passed([]) is True
+
+
+class TestAggregateScore:
+    """Tests for aggregate score calculation."""
+
+    def test_average_scores(self):
+        """Test aggregate is average of scores."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = [
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g1", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS, score=1.0,
+            ),
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g2", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.FAIL, score=0.5,
+            ),
+        ]
+        assert validator.aggregate_score(results) == 0.75
+
+    def test_no_results(self):
+        """Test aggregate with no results returns 1.0."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        assert validator.aggregate_score([]) == 1.0
+
+    def test_none_scores_ignored(self):
+        """Test results with None scores are handled."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = [
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g1", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS, score=None,
+            ),
+        ]
+        assert validator.aggregate_score(results) == 1.0
+
+
+class TestGetFailedGates:
+    """Tests for getting failed gates."""
+
+    def test_get_failed(self):
+        """Test filtering failed results."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = [
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g1", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS,
+            ),
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g2", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.FAIL,
+            ),
+        ]
+        failed = validator.get_failed_gates(results)
+        assert len(failed) == 1
+        assert failed[0].gate_id == "g2"
+
+
+class TestResultsToManifest:
+    """Tests for converting results to manifest dict."""
+
+    def test_manifest_dict_format(self):
+        """Test manifest dict has correct structure."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        results = [
+            ValidationResult.create(
+                gate_id="g1", gate_type=GateType.PATTERN,
+                artifact_id="a", status=ValidationStatus.PASS, score=1.0,
+            ),
+        ]
+        manifest = validator.results_to_manifest_dict(results)
+        assert "quality_gates" in manifest
+        assert manifest["all_passed"] is True
+        assert manifest["aggregate_score"] == 1.0
+
+
+class TestPersistence:
+    """Tests for persisting validation results."""
+
+    def test_persist_and_retrieve_by_run(self, temp_db, pattern_gate):
+        """Test persisting results and retrieving by run ID."""
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[pattern_gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        validator.validate_artifact(
+            "## Summary\nClean content.", "art-1", run_id="run-1"
+        )
+
+        results = validator.get_results_for_run("run-1")
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0]["status"] == "pass"
+
+    def test_persist_and_retrieve_by_artifact(self, temp_db, pattern_gate):
+        """Test persisting results and retrieving by artifact ID."""
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[pattern_gate], db_path=temp_db)
+
+        validator.validate_artifact(
+            "## Summary\nClean content.", "art-1", run_id="run-1"
+        )
+
+        results = validator.get_results_for_artifact("art-1")
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        assert results[0]["artifact_id"] == "art-1"
+
+    def test_no_persistence_without_db(self, pattern_gate):
+        """Test no persistence when db_path is None."""
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[pattern_gate])
+        results = validator.validate_artifact(
+            "## Summary\nContent.", "art-1", run_id="run-1"
+        )
+        assert len(results) == 1
+        # No DB queries should work
+        assert validator.get_results_for_run("run-1") == []
+
+    def test_add_gate(self):
+        """Test adding a gate after construction."""
+        validator = QualityValidator()
+        assert len(validator.gates) == 0
+
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(required_patterns=[r"test"])
+        validator.add_gate(gate)
+        assert len(validator.gates) == 1

tests/unit/prompts/test_refinement_loop.py

@@ -0,0 +1,219 @@
+"""
+Unit tests for RefinementLoop.
+
+Tests the execute → validate → halt or refine cycle.
+"""
+
+import json
+import pytest
+from typing import List, Tuple
+
+from markitect.prompts.quality.models import (
+    HaltDecision,
+    QualityPolicy,
+    ValidationResult,
+    ValidationStatus,
+)
+from markitect.prompts.quality.gates.pattern_gate import PatternValidationGate
+from markitect.prompts.quality.validator import QualityValidator
+from markitect.prompts.quality.refinement import RefinementLoop
+
+
+class TestRefinementLoopBasic:
+    """Tests for basic refinement loop operation."""
+
+    def test_immediate_quality_met(self):
+        """Test loop halts immediately when quality is met on first iteration."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "## Summary\nGood content.", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 1
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+        assert len(result.run_ids) == 1
+
+    def test_iterates_until_quality_met(self):
+        """Test loop iterates until quality requirements are met."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary", r"## Details"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=5, min_improvement=0.0)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        contents = [
+            "## Summary\nOnly summary.",  # missing Details
+            "## Summary\nStill only summary.",  # still missing, slightly different
+            "## Summary\n## Details\nBoth sections.",  # complete
+        ]
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            content = contents[min(iteration - 1, len(contents) - 1)]
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", content, "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 3
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_QUALITY_MET
+        assert len(result.run_ids) == 3
+
+    def test_hits_iteration_limit(self):
+        """Test loop stops at iteration limit."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"IMPOSSIBLE_PATTERN_12345"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3, min_improvement=0.0)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "never matches", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 3
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_ITERATION_LIMIT
+
+    def test_budget_exhaustion(self):
+        """Test loop stops when resource budget is exhausted."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"IMPOSSIBLE"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=10, resource_budget=2)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "content", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.iterations_run == 2
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_BUDGET_EXHAUSTED
+
+
+class TestRefinementLoopHistory:
+    """Tests for refinement loop tracking history."""
+
+    def test_all_results_tracked(self):
+        """Test all iteration results are tracked."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Summary"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        iteration_count = [0]
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            iteration_count[0] = iteration
+            if iteration < 3:
+                return (f"run-{iteration}", "no match", "art-1")
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "## Summary\nDone.", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        assert len(result.all_results) == result.iterations_run
+        assert len(result.run_ids) == result.iterations_run
+
+    def test_run_ids_collected(self):
+        """Test run IDs are collected from each iteration."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(gate_id="gate-1")
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "content", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        assert result.run_ids[0] == "run-1"
+
+    def test_previous_results_passed_to_callback(self):
+        """Test callback receives previous iteration results."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Final"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=3)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        received_prev: List[List[ValidationResult]] = []
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            received_prev.append(prev_results)
+            if iteration >= 2:
+                return (f"run-{iteration}", "## Final\nDone.", "art-1")
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "incomplete", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        # First iteration gets empty prev_results
+        assert len(received_prev[0]) == 0
+        # Second iteration gets results from first
+        assert len(received_prev[1]) == 1
+
+
+class TestRefinementLoopNoImprovement:
+    """Tests for no-improvement halting in refinement loop."""
+
+    def test_halts_on_no_improvement(self):
+        """Test loop halts when scores stop improving."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(
+            required_patterns=[r"## Required"],
+            gate_id="gate-1",
+        )
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(
+            max_iterations=10,
+            min_improvement=0.1,
+        )
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        # Both iterations produce same failing content → same score → no improvement
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            return (f"run-{iteration}", "no match at all", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+
+        # Second iteration should detect no improvement and halt
+        assert result.iterations_run == 2
+        assert result.halting_record.decision == HaltDecision.HALT_NO_IMPROVEMENT
+
+
+class TestRefinementResultSerialization:
+    """Tests for RefinementResult serialization."""
+
+    def test_to_dict(self):
+        """Test RefinementResult serialization."""
+        gate = PatternValidationGate(gate_id="gate-1")
+        validator = QualityValidator(gates=[gate])
+        policy = QualityPolicy(max_iterations=1)
+        loop = RefinementLoop(validator, policy)
+
+        def callback(iteration, prev_results):
+            return ("run-1", "content", "art-1")
+
+        result = loop.run(callback, "art-1")
+        d = result.to_dict()
+
+        assert "iterations_run" in d
+        assert "final_results" in d
+        assert "halting_record" in d
+        assert "run_ids" in d