# Cortex OS CTO Context

This context defines local product language for the Cortex OS CTO planning workspace.
It is child-local glossary language and does not create Core authority.

## Language

**CTO Product Surface**:
A governed operator-facing product area for delegating bounded code-change work while preserving Cortex OS authority, evidence, and approval rules.
_Avoid_: CTO app, autonomous developer, coding bot

**Case Candidate Backend**:
The proposed Case-based execution backend for real-repo code-change work, admitted only after adapter proof, validator coverage, and governed routing.
_Avoid_: Case default, Case authority, replacement kernel

**CTO Harness**:
The adapter conformance and evidence validation module that normalizes backend behavior into a stable CTO evidence interface.
_Avoid_: execution authority, final reviewer, product readiness proof

**Harness Evidence Interface**:
The stable artifact and event contract used to compare backends and prove bounded execution results.
_Avoid_: loose evidence bundle, backend logs, success claim

**Target Repository**:
The owned source repository receiving bounded, approved, evidence-producing code changes.
_Avoid_: vendor source, hidden workspace, disposable scratch by default

**Copied Repository Fixture**:
A runtime copy of an owned local source repository used to prove backend behavior without mutating the source repository or a Target Repository.
_Avoid_: Target Repository, live repo, external developer source

**Hermes Control Surface**:
A Hermes-facing summary and replay surface for CTO Harness state, approval context, and evidence links. It controls visibility and interaction but does not govern.
_Avoid_: Core authority, runtime default switch, backend approval source

**Governed Workflow Delegation**:
A bounded real coding task routed through CTO, approved through Hermes/operator policy, executed by an eligible backend, and accepted only through CTO Harness evidence.
_Avoid_: autonomous default execution, unmanaged Case task, direct repo mutation

**Core Promotion Decision Packet**:
A child-local CTO artifact that maps validated CTO evidence to a future governed Core decision route. It may request Core review, but it does not grant Core authority or runtime default activation.
_Avoid_: promotion approval, Core authority, runtime default switch