---
key: ci.verify-locally-ci-confirms
title: 2026-07-21 — Build and verify locally, then trust it; CI confirms (#542)
status: active
since: '2026-07-21'
supersedes: none
superseded-by: none
rule: Treat the local build/verify/review pass as the decision point and CI as confirmation — don't idle waiting on a run you have no reason to doubt.
signals: '~9 min warm CI · docs-only PR seconds · CI VM 127 · commit status watch · local gate first · paths: n/a · issues: #542, #416'
mechanics: '`GET /api/v1/repos/timothy/ersatztv/commits/{sha}/status`; CI on VM 127.'
---

A warm full CI run takes roughly **9 minutes**; a docs-only PR completes in seconds since ersatztv#416's
docs-only skip. Neither duration justifies blocking on the run when the same gates already passed
locally.

Watch the run by commit status rather than by polling the UI, and continue working. CI *confirms* the
local verdict; it is not the first line of defence.