refactor: rename Ephemeral → Wisp (Steam Engine metaphor)

Wisp = ephemeral vapor produced by the Steam Engine (Gas Town).
This aligns with the metaphor:
- Claude = Fire
- Claude Code = Steam
- Gas Town = Steam Engine
- Wisps = ephemeral vapor it produces

Changes:
- types.Issue.Ephemeral → types.Issue.Wisp
- types.IssueFilter.Ephemeral → types.IssueFilter.Wisp
- JSON field: "ephemeral" → "wisp"
- CLI flag: --ephemeral → --wisp (bd cleanup)
- All tests updated

Note: SQLite column remains "ephemeral" (no migration needed).
This is a breaking change for JSON consumers using 0.33.0.

🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

cmd/bd/autoflush.go

@@ -704,20 +704,20 @@ func flushToJSONLWithState(state flushState) {
 	}
 
 	// Convert map to slice (will be sorted by writeJSONLAtomic)
-	// Filter out ephemeral issues - they should never be exported to JSONL (bd-687g)
-	// Ephemeral issues exist only in SQLite and are shared via .beads/redirect, not JSONL.
+	// Filter out wisps - they should never be exported to JSONL (bd-687g)
+	// Wisps exist only in SQLite and are shared via .beads/redirect, not JSONL.
 	// This prevents "zombie" issues that resurrect after mol squash deletes them.
 	issues := make([]*types.Issue, 0, len(issueMap))
-	ephemeralSkipped := 0
+	wispsSkipped := 0
 	for _, issue := range issueMap {
-		if issue.Ephemeral {
-			ephemeralSkipped++
+		if issue.Wisp {
+			wispsSkipped++
 			continue
 		}
 		issues = append(issues, issue)
 	}
-	if ephemeralSkipped > 0 {
-		debug.Logf("auto-flush: filtered %d ephemeral issues from export", ephemeralSkipped)
+	if wispsSkipped > 0 {
+		debug.Logf("auto-flush: filtered %d wisps from export", wispsSkipped)
 	}
 
 	// Filter issues by prefix in multi-repo mode for non-primary repos (fixes GH #437)

cmd/bd/cleanup.go

@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ Delete all closed issues and prune tombstones:
 Delete issues closed more than 30 days ago:
   bd cleanup --older-than 30 --force
 
-Delete only closed ephemeral issues (transient messages):
-  bd cleanup --ephemeral --force
+Delete only closed wisps (transient molecules):
+  bd cleanup --wisp --force
 
 Preview what would be deleted/pruned:
   bd cleanup --dry-run
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ SEE ALSO:
 		cascade, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("cascade")
 		olderThanDays, _ := cmd.Flags().GetInt("older-than")
 		hardDelete, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("hard")
-		ephemeralOnly, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("ephemeral")
+		wispOnly, _ := cmd.Flags().GetBool("wisp")
 
 		// Calculate custom TTL for --hard mode
 		// When --hard is set, use --older-than days as the tombstone TTL cutoff
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ SEE ALSO:
 			filter.ClosedBefore = &cutoffTime
 		}
 
-		// Add ephemeral filter if specified (bd-kwro.9)
-		if ephemeralOnly {
-			ephemeralTrue := true
-			filter.Ephemeral = &ephemeralTrue
+		// Add wisp filter if specified (bd-kwro.9)
+		if wispOnly {
+			wispTrue := true
+			filter.Wisp = &wispTrue
 		}
 
 		// Get all closed issues matching filter
@@ -153,17 +153,17 @@ SEE ALSO:
 				if olderThanDays > 0 {
 					result["filter"] = fmt.Sprintf("older than %d days", olderThanDays)
 				}
-				if ephemeralOnly {
-					result["ephemeral"] = true
+				if wispOnly {
+					result["wisp"] = true
 				}
 				output, _ := json.MarshalIndent(result, "", "  ")
 				fmt.Println(string(output))
 			} else {
 				msg := "No closed issues to delete"
-				if ephemeralOnly && olderThanDays > 0 {
-					msg = fmt.Sprintf("No closed ephemeral issues older than %d days to delete", olderThanDays)
-				} else if ephemeralOnly {
-					msg = "No closed ephemeral issues to delete"
+				if wispOnly && olderThanDays > 0 {
+					msg = fmt.Sprintf("No closed wisps older than %d days to delete", olderThanDays)
+				} else if wispOnly {
+					msg = "No closed wisps to delete"
 				} else if olderThanDays > 0 {
 					msg = fmt.Sprintf("No closed issues older than %d days to delete", olderThanDays)
 				}
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@ SEE ALSO:
 		// Show preview
 		if !force && !dryRun {
 			issueType := "closed"
-			if ephemeralOnly {
-				issueType = "closed ephemeral"
+			if wispOnly {
+				issueType = "closed wisp"
 			}
 			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Would delete %d %s issue(s). Use --force to confirm or --dry-run to preview.\n", len(issueIDs), issueType)
 			os.Exit(1)
@@ -190,8 +190,8 @@ SEE ALSO:
 
 		if !jsonOutput {
 			issueType := "closed"
-			if ephemeralOnly {
-				issueType = "closed ephemeral"
+			if wispOnly {
+				issueType = "closed wisp"
 			}
 			if olderThanDays > 0 {
 				fmt.Printf("Found %d %s issue(s) older than %d days\n", len(closedIssues), issueType, olderThanDays)
@@ -255,6 +255,6 @@ func init() {
 	cleanupCmd.Flags().Bool("cascade", false, "Recursively delete all dependent issues")
 	cleanupCmd.Flags().Int("older-than", 0, "Only delete issues closed more than N days ago (0 = all closed issues)")
 	cleanupCmd.Flags().Bool("hard", false, "Bypass tombstone TTL safety; use --older-than days as cutoff")
-	cleanupCmd.Flags().Bool("ephemeral", false, "Only delete closed ephemeral issues (transient messages)")
+	cleanupCmd.Flags().Bool("wisp", false, "Only delete closed wisps (transient molecules)")
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(cleanupCmd)
 }

cmd/bd/export.go

@@ -346,11 +346,11 @@ Examples:
 			}
 		}
 
-		// Filter out ephemeral issues - they should never be exported to JSONL (bd-687g)
-		// Ephemeral issues exist only in SQLite and are shared via .beads/redirect, not JSONL.
+		// Filter out wisps - they should never be exported to JSONL (bd-687g)
+		// Wisps exist only in SQLite and are shared via .beads/redirect, not JSONL.
 		filtered := make([]*types.Issue, 0, len(issues))
 		for _, issue := range issues {
-			if !issue.Ephemeral {
+			if !issue.Wisp {
 				filtered = append(filtered, issue)
 			}
 		}

cmd/bd/info.go

@@ -292,10 +292,10 @@ var versionChanges = []VersionChange{
 		Version: "0.33.0",
 		Date:    "2025-12-21",
 		Changes: []string{
-			"NEW: Ephemeral molecules (bd-2vh3) - bd mol spawn creates ephemeral issues by default",
-			"NEW: Ephemeral issues live only in SQLite, never export to JSONL (prevents zombie resurrection)",
-			"NEW: --persistent flag on bd mol spawn to opt out of ephemeral spawning",
-			"NEW: bd mol squash compresses ephemeral children into digest issue",
+			"NEW: Wisp molecules (bd-2vh3) - bd mol spawn creates wisp issues by default",
+			"NEW: Wisp issues live only in SQLite, never export to JSONL (prevents zombie resurrection)",
+			"NEW: --persistent flag on bd mol spawn to opt out of wisp spawning",
+			"NEW: bd mol squash compresses wisp children into digest issue",
 			"NEW: --summary flag on bd mol squash for agent-provided AI summaries",
 			"FIX: DeleteIssue now cascades to comments table (bd-687g)",
 		},
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ var versionChanges = []VersionChange{
 		Date:    "2025-12-16",
 		Changes: []string{
 			"bd setup droid (GH#598) - Factory.ai (Droid) IDE support",
-			"Messaging schema fields (bd-kwro.1) - New 'message' issue type, sender/ephemeral/replies_to/relates_to/duplicate_of/superseded_by fields",
+			"Messaging schema fields (bd-kwro.1) - New 'message' issue type, sender/wisp/replies_to/relates_to/duplicate_of/superseded_by fields",
 			"New dependency types: replies-to, relates-to, duplicates, supersedes",
 			"Windows build fixes (GH#585) - gosec lint errors resolved",
 			"Issue ID prefix extraction fix - Word-like suffixes now parse correctly",

cmd/bd/mol_bond.go

@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ func bondProtoMol(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, proto, mol *types.Issu
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("missing required variables: %s (use --var)", strings.Join(missingVars, ", "))
 	}
 
-	// Spawn the proto (ephemeral by default for molecule execution - bd-2vh3)
+	// Spawn the proto (wisp by default for molecule execution - bd-2vh3)
 	spawnResult, err := spawnMolecule(ctx, s, subgraph, vars, "", actorName, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("spawning proto: %w", err)

cmd/bd/mol_run.go

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func runMolRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	// Spawn the molecule with actor as assignee (ephemeral for cleanup - bd-2vh3)
+	// Spawn the molecule with actor as assignee (wisp for cleanup - bd-2vh3)
 	result, err := spawnMolecule(ctx, store, subgraph, vars, actor, actor, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error spawning molecule: %v\n", err)

cmd/bd/mol_spawn.go

@@ -182,9 +182,9 @@ func runMolSpawn(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	}
 
 	// Clone the subgraph (spawn the molecule)
-	// Spawned molecules are ephemeral by default (bd-2vh3) - use --persistent to opt out
-	ephemeral := !persistent
-	result, err := spawnMolecule(ctx, store, subgraph, vars, assignee, actor, ephemeral)
+	// Spawned molecules are wisps by default (bd-2vh3) - use --persistent to opt out
+	wisp := !persistent
+	result, err := spawnMolecule(ctx, store, subgraph, vars, assignee, actor, wisp)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error spawning molecule: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ func init() {
 	molSpawnCmd.Flags().String("assignee", "", "Assign the root issue to this agent/user")
 	molSpawnCmd.Flags().StringSlice("attach", []string{}, "Proto to attach after spawning (repeatable)")
 	molSpawnCmd.Flags().String("attach-type", types.BondTypeSequential, "Bond type for attachments: sequential, parallel, or conditional")
-	molSpawnCmd.Flags().Bool("persistent", false, "Create non-ephemeral issues (default: ephemeral for cleanup)")
+	molSpawnCmd.Flags().Bool("persistent", false, "Create non-wisp issues (default: wisp for cleanup)")
 
 	molCmd.AddCommand(molSpawnCmd)
 }

cmd/bd/mol_squash.go

@@ -18,17 +18,17 @@ import (
 var molSquashCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "squash <molecule-id>",
 	Short: "Compress molecule execution into a digest",
-	Long: `Squash a molecule's ephemeral children into a single digest issue.
+	Long: `Squash a molecule's wisp children into a single digest issue.
 
-This command collects all ephemeral child issues of a molecule, generates
-a summary digest, and optionally deletes the ephemeral children.
+This command collects all wisp child issues of a molecule, generates
+a summary digest, and optionally deletes the wisps.
 
 The squash operation:
   1. Loads the molecule and all its children
-  2. Filters to only ephemeral issues
+  2. Filters to only wisps (ephemeral vapor from the Steam Engine)
   3. Generates a digest (summary of work done)
-  4. Creates a non-ephemeral digest issue
-  5. Deletes the ephemeral children (unless --keep-children)
+  4. Creates a permanent digest issue
+  5. Deletes the wisps (unless --keep-children)
 
 AGENT INTEGRATION:
 Use --summary to provide an AI-generated summary. This keeps bd as a pure
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ tool - the calling agent (Gas Town polecat, Claude Code, etc.) is responsible
 for generating intelligent summaries. Without --summary, a basic concatenation
 of child issue content is used.
 
-This is part of the ephemeral workflow: spawn creates ephemeral issues,
+This is part of the wisp workflow: spawn creates wisps,
 execution happens, squash compresses the trace into an outcome.
 
 Example:
@@ -92,39 +92,39 @@ func runMolSquash(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
-	// Filter to only ephemeral children (exclude root)
-	var ephemeralChildren []*types.Issue
+	// Filter to only wisp children (exclude root)
+	var wispChildren []*types.Issue
 	for _, issue := range subgraph.Issues {
 		if issue.ID == subgraph.Root.ID {
 			continue // Skip root
 		}
-		if issue.Ephemeral {
-			ephemeralChildren = append(ephemeralChildren, issue)
+		if issue.Wisp {
+			wispChildren = append(wispChildren, issue)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if len(ephemeralChildren) == 0 {
+	if len(wispChildren) == 0 {
 		if jsonOutput {
 			outputJSON(SquashResult{
 				MoleculeID:    moleculeID,
 				SquashedCount: 0,
 			})
 		} else {
-			fmt.Printf("No ephemeral children found for molecule %s\n", moleculeID)
+			fmt.Printf("No wisp children found for molecule %s\n", moleculeID)
 		}
 		return
 	}
 
 	if dryRun {
-		fmt.Printf("\nDry run: would squash %d ephemeral children of %s\n\n", len(ephemeralChildren), moleculeID)
+		fmt.Printf("\nDry run: would squash %d wisp children of %s\n\n", len(wispChildren), moleculeID)
 		fmt.Printf("Root: %s\n", subgraph.Root.Title)
-		fmt.Printf("\nEphemeral children to squash:\n")
-		for _, issue := range ephemeralChildren {
+		fmt.Printf("\nWisp children to squash:\n")
+		for _, issue := range wispChildren {
 			status := string(issue.Status)
 			fmt.Printf("  - [%s] %s (%s)\n", status, issue.Title, issue.ID)
 		}
 		fmt.Printf("\nDigest preview:\n")
-		digest := generateDigest(subgraph.Root, ephemeralChildren)
+		digest := generateDigest(subgraph.Root, wispChildren)
 		// Show first 500 chars of digest
 		if len(digest) > 500 {
 			fmt.Printf("%s...\n", digest[:500])
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ func runMolSquash(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	}
 
 	// Perform the squash
-	result, err := squashMolecule(ctx, store, subgraph.Root, ephemeralChildren, keepChildren, summary, actor)
+	result, err := squashMolecule(ctx, store, subgraph.Root, wispChildren, keepChildren, summary, actor)
 	if err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error squashing molecule: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func runMolSquash(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 	fmt.Printf("%s Squashed molecule: %d children → 1 digest\n", ui.RenderPass("✓"), result.SquashedCount)
 	fmt.Printf("  Digest ID: %s\n", result.DigestID)
 	if result.DeletedCount > 0 {
-		fmt.Printf("  Deleted: %d ephemeral issues\n", result.DeletedCount)
+		fmt.Printf("  Deleted: %d wisps\n", result.DeletedCount)
 	} else if result.KeptChildren {
 		fmt.Printf("  Children preserved (--keep-children)\n")
 	}
@@ -235,16 +235,16 @@ func squashMolecule(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, root *types.Issue, c
 		digestContent = generateDigest(root, children)
 	}
 
-	// Create digest issue (non-ephemeral)
+	// Create digest issue (permanent, not a wisp)
 	now := time.Now()
 	digestIssue := &types.Issue{
 		Title:       fmt.Sprintf("Digest: %s", root.Title),
 		Description: digestContent,
 		Status:      types.StatusClosed,
-		CloseReason: fmt.Sprintf("Squashed from %d ephemeral steps", len(children)),
+		CloseReason: fmt.Sprintf("Squashed from %d wisps", len(children)),
 		Priority:    root.Priority,
 		IssueType:   types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral:   false, // Digest is permanent
+		Wisp:        false, // Digest is permanent, not a wisp
 		ClosedAt:    &now,
 	}
 
@@ -280,9 +280,9 @@ func squashMolecule(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, root *types.Issue, c
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	// Delete ephemeral children (outside transaction for better error handling)
+	// Delete wisp children (outside transaction for better error handling)
 	if !keepChildren {
-		deleted, err := deleteEphemeralChildren(ctx, s, childIDs)
+		deleted, err := deleteWispChildren(ctx, s, childIDs)
 		if err != nil {
 			// Log but don't fail - digest was created successfully
 			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Warning: failed to delete some children: %v\n", err)
@@ -293,8 +293,8 @@ func squashMolecule(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, root *types.Issue, c
 	return result, nil
 }
 
-// deleteEphemeralChildren removes the ephemeral issues from the database
-func deleteEphemeralChildren(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, ids []string) (int, error) {
+// deleteWispChildren removes the wisp issues from the database
+func deleteWispChildren(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, ids []string) (int, error) {
 	// Type assert to SQLite storage for delete access
 	d, ok := s.(*sqlite.SQLiteStorage)
 	if !ok {
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ func deleteEphemeralChildren(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, ids []strin
 
 func init() {
 	molSquashCmd.Flags().Bool("dry-run", false, "Preview what would be squashed")
-	molSquashCmd.Flags().Bool("keep-children", false, "Don't delete ephemeral children after squash")
+	molSquashCmd.Flags().Bool("keep-children", false, "Don't delete wisp children after squash")
 	molSquashCmd.Flags().String("summary", "", "Agent-provided summary (bypasses auto-generation)")
 
 	molCmd.AddCommand(molSquashCmd)

cmd/bd/mol_test.go

@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ func TestSquashMolecule(t *testing.T) {
 		Status:      types.StatusClosed,
 		Priority:    2,
 		IssueType:   types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CloseReason: "Completed design",
 	}
 	child2 := &types.Issue{
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ func TestSquashMolecule(t *testing.T) {
 		Status:      types.StatusClosed,
 		Priority:    2,
 		IssueType:   types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CloseReason: "Code merged",
 	}
 
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ func TestSquashMolecule(t *testing.T) {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to get digest: %v", err)
 	}
-	if digest.Ephemeral {
+	if digest.Wisp {
 		t.Error("Digest should NOT be ephemeral")
 	}
 	if digest.Status != types.StatusClosed {
@@ -591,11 +591,11 @@ func TestSquashMoleculeWithDelete(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	child := &types.Issue{
-		Title:     "Ephemeral Step",
+		Title:     "Wisp Step",
 		Status:    types.StatusClosed,
 		Priority:  2,
 		IssueType: types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral: true,
+		Wisp:      true,
 	}
 	if err := s.CreateIssue(ctx, child, "test"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create child: %v", err)
@@ -700,12 +700,12 @@ func TestSquashMoleculeWithAgentSummary(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	child := &types.Issue{
-		Title:       "Ephemeral Step",
+		Title:       "Wisp Step",
 		Description: "This should NOT appear in digest",
 		Status:      types.StatusClosed,
 		Priority:    2,
 		IssueType:   types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CloseReason: "Done",
 	}
 	if err := s.CreateIssue(ctx, child, "test"); err != nil {
@@ -737,15 +737,15 @@ func TestSquashMoleculeWithAgentSummary(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Verify auto-generated content is NOT present
-	if strings.Contains(digest.Description, "Ephemeral Step") {
+	if strings.Contains(digest.Description, "Wisp Step") {
 		t.Error("Digest should NOT contain auto-generated content when agent summary provided")
 	}
 }
 
-// TestEphemeralFilteringFromExport verifies that ephemeral issues are filtered
-// from JSONL export (bd-687g). Ephemeral issues should only exist in SQLite,
+// TestWispFilteringFromExport verifies that wisp issues are filtered
+// from JSONL export (bd-687g). Wisp issues should only exist in SQLite,
 // not in issues.jsonl, to prevent "zombie" resurrection after mol squash.
-func TestEphemeralFilteringFromExport(t *testing.T) {
+func TestWispFilteringFromExport(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	dbPath := t.TempDir() + "/test.db"
 	s, err := sqlite.New(ctx, dbPath)
@@ -757,27 +757,27 @@ func TestEphemeralFilteringFromExport(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to set config: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	// Create a mix of ephemeral and non-ephemeral issues
+	// Create a mix of wisp and non-wisp issues
 	normalIssue := &types.Issue{
 		Title:     "Normal Issue",
 		Status:    types.StatusOpen,
 		Priority:  1,
 		IssueType: types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral: false,
+		Wisp:      false,
 	}
-	ephemeralIssue := &types.Issue{
-		Title:     "Ephemeral Issue",
+	wispIssue := &types.Issue{
+		Title:     "Wisp Issue",
 		Status:    types.StatusOpen,
 		Priority:  2,
 		IssueType: types.TypeTask,
-		Ephemeral: true,
+		Wisp:      true,
 	}
 
 	if err := s.CreateIssue(ctx, normalIssue, "test"); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to create normal issue: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := s.CreateIssue(ctx, ephemeralIssue, "test"); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("Failed to create ephemeral issue: %v", err)
+	if err := s.CreateIssue(ctx, wispIssue, "test"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Failed to create wisp issue: %v", err)
 	}
 
 	// Get all issues from DB - should include both
@@ -789,15 +789,15 @@ func TestEphemeralFilteringFromExport(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected 2 issues in DB, got %d", len(allIssues))
 	}
 
-	// Filter ephemeral issues (simulating export behavior)
+	// Filter wisp issues (simulating export behavior)
 	exportableIssues := make([]*types.Issue, 0)
 	for _, issue := range allIssues {
-		if !issue.Ephemeral {
+		if !issue.Wisp {
 			exportableIssues = append(exportableIssues, issue)
 		}
 	}
 
-	// Should only have the non-ephemeral issue
+	// Should only have the non-wisp issue
 	if len(exportableIssues) != 1 {
 		t.Errorf("Expected 1 exportable issue, got %d", len(exportableIssues))
 	}

cmd/bd/template.go

@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ Example:
 			return
 		}
 
-		// Clone the subgraph (deprecated command, non-ephemeral for backwards compatibility)
+		// Clone the subgraph (deprecated command, non-wisp for backwards compatibility)
 		result, err := cloneSubgraph(ctx, store, subgraph, vars, assignee, actor, false)
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "Error instantiating template: %v\n", err)
@@ -453,8 +453,8 @@ func substituteVariables(text string, vars map[string]string) string {
 
 // cloneSubgraph creates new issues from the template with variable substitution
 // If assignee is non-empty, it will be set on the root epic
-// If ephemeral is true, spawned issues are marked for bulk deletion when closed (bd-2vh3)
-func cloneSubgraph(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, subgraph *TemplateSubgraph, vars map[string]string, assignee string, actorName string, ephemeral bool) (*InstantiateResult, error) {
+// If wisp is true, spawned issues are marked for bulk deletion when closed (bd-2vh3)
+func cloneSubgraph(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, subgraph *TemplateSubgraph, vars map[string]string, assignee string, actorName string, wisp bool) (*InstantiateResult, error) {
 	if s == nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("no database connection")
 	}
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ func cloneSubgraph(ctx context.Context, s storage.Storage, subgraph *TemplateSub
 				IssueType:          oldIssue.IssueType,
 				Assignee:           issueAssignee,
 				EstimatedMinutes:   oldIssue.EstimatedMinutes,
-				Ephemeral:          ephemeral, // bd-2vh3: mark for cleanup when closed
+				Wisp:               wisp, // bd-2vh3: mark for cleanup when closed
 				CreatedAt:          time.Now(),
 				UpdatedAt:          time.Now(),
 			}

cmd/bd/thread_test.go

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversal(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "worker",
 		Sender:      "manager",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now,
 		UpdatedAt:   now,
 	}
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversal(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "manager",
 		Sender:      "worker",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now.Add(time.Minute),
 		UpdatedAt:   now.Add(time.Minute),
 	}
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversal(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "worker",
 		Sender:      "manager",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now.Add(2 * time.Minute),
 		UpdatedAt:   now.Add(2 * time.Minute),
 	}
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversalEmptyThread(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "user",
 		Sender:      "sender",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now,
 		UpdatedAt:   now,
 	}
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversalBranching(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "user",
 		Sender:      "sender",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now,
 		UpdatedAt:   now,
 	}
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversalBranching(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "sender",
 		Sender:      "user",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now.Add(time.Minute),
 		UpdatedAt:   now.Add(time.Minute),
 	}
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversalBranching(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "sender",
 		Sender:      "another-user",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now.Add(2 * time.Minute),
 		UpdatedAt:   now.Add(2 * time.Minute),
 	}
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversalOnlyRepliesTo(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "user",
 		Sender:      "sender",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now,
 		UpdatedAt:   now,
 	}
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ func TestThreadTraversalOnlyRepliesTo(t *testing.T) {
 		IssueType:   types.TypeMessage,
 		Assignee:    "user",
 		Sender:      "sender",
-		Ephemeral:   true,
+		Wisp:        true,
 		CreatedAt:   now.Add(time.Minute),
 		UpdatedAt:   now.Add(time.Minute),
 	}