Workflow Retries Should Re-Enter at Boundaries, Not Mid-Step

Retrying from the middle of a step multiplies partial effects, while re-entering at a step boundary restores a known situation before trying again.

The middle of a step is a place with no guarantees: some effects landed, some did not. Boundaries exist precisely because they are the points where the situation is known.

Boundary re-entry rules

• Failed steps roll back or complete their partial effects first.
• Re-entry verifies the boundary state before proceeding.
• Retry counts live at the boundary so loops are visible.

Use the architecture guide, blackboard schema, and examples to restart from verified boundaries, never from mid-step guesses.