+++
title = "Change graph cycle marker from [cycle] to *"
priority = 3
status = "done"
ticket_type = "task"
dependencies = []
+++
## Goal

When `nbd graph` renders a node that has already been visited (a node appearing in multiple branches of the tree), it currently labels the repeat occurrence as `[cycle]`. This label is misleading — the node isn't truly in a cycle, it's simply appearing twice in the tree because it's depended on from multiple places. Change the marker to `*` to indicate "this ticket appears elsewhere in the tree".

## Current output

```
a3f9c2  [todo]  Fix login bug
├── b7d41e  [in_progress]  Add rate limiting
│   └── c9e823  [todo]  Write tests
└── c9e823  [cycle]
```

## Target output

```
a3f9c2  [todo]  Fix login bug
├── b7d41e  [in_progress]  Add rate limiting
│   └── c9e823  [todo]  Write tests
└── c9e823  *
```

## Files to change

### `src/display.rs`

In the `render_node` function (around line 409), change the cycle rendering line from:

```rust
append_line(out, &format!("{prefix}{connector}{id}  [cycle]"));
```

to:

```rust
append_line(out, &format!("{prefix}{connector}{id}  *"));
```

### README.md

Update the `nbd graph` section example to replace `[cycle]` with `*` in the documentation.

## Validation

```sh
cargo fmt && cargo check && cargo clippy && cargo test
# Create two tickets that share a dependency, then graph them
cargo run -- graph
```

Any test that checks for `[cycle]` in graph output needs updating to expect `*` instead.