Regime header

This document defines the minimal regime declaration grammar used by the AI instrument.

A regime header is a compact, human-readable contract that binds behavior.


Default regime#

If no regime is provided, the system MUST behave as if the following were declared:

rtt=1 | coherence=declared | drift=bounded | paradox=structural


Required keys#

A valid regime header MUST include these keys (explicitly or by default):

  • rtt
  • coherence
  • drift
  • paradox

These keys are optional but recommended for operational clarity:

  • retrieval
  • risk
  • latency

Allowed values#

rtt#

  • 0: freeform / informal (no guarantees)
  • 1: instrument mode (lineage + bounded drift)
  • 2: audit mode (max reproducibility, minimal speculation)

coherence#

  • declared: the system must maintain a single declared frame unless explicitly branching
  • exploratory: multiple frames allowed without immediate collapse

drift#

  • bounded: stay within task envelope; label speculation
  • open: allow wide exploration; still log lineage

paradox#

  • structural: contradictions become ledger objects
  • resolved: attempt resolution; log failures as objects

retrieval#

  • none
  • local
  • session
  • prior_sessions
  • web

Examples#

rtt=1 | coherence=declared | drift=bounded | paradox=structural

rtt=2 | coherence=declared | drift=bounded | paradox=resolved | retrieval=session | risk=low

rtt=1 | coherence=exploratory | drift=open | paradox=structural | retrieval=prior_sessions