135 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
135 lines
5.4 KiB
Markdown
---
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name: cto-case-backend-brief
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tier: local
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status: draft
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owner: jp
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source: conversation
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created: 2026-05-31
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last_reviewed: 2026-05-31
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lifecycle_classification: planning
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core_promotion_status: not-promoted
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description: Child-local brief for making Case the default CTO execution backend while Cortex OS keeps authority.
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---
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# CTO Case Backend Brief
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## Thesis
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Case should be the default real-repo execution backend for the Cortex OS CTO product surface.
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Cortex OS should govern Case. Cortex OS should not be built on Case.
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## Core Position
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```text
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Cortex governs.
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Hermes controls.
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CTO routes.
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Case executes.
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Harness proves.
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Target repo stays owned.
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Evidence records.
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Core promotes only through SOT route.
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```
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## Authority Model
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| Block | Governs | Must not govern |
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| --- | --- | --- |
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| Cortex OS Core | SOT authority, routing, lifecycle, terminology, validators, evidence rules, promotion rules | Agent implementation, vendor internals, PR implementation |
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| Hermes WebUI | Visual control, sessions, approvals, event replay, operator status | Core SOT authority, backend execution semantics |
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| Hermes CTO Profile | Technical role, task contract, risk interpretation, backend selection, JP escalation | Core promotion, deploy authority, vendor source |
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| CTO Harness | Adapter compliance, event validation, artifact validation, backend conformance | Final authority, product readiness claim |
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| Case | Code-change pipeline, PR lifecycle, verifier/reviewer gates, retrospective learning | Cortex authority, JP approval, Core promotion |
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| Target Repository | Owned source and local project contract | Cortex authority transfer, hidden mutation |
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## Target Architecture
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```text
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+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Cortex OS Core |
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| SOT authority: Standards, Protocols, Registries, Validators, Evidence rules |
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+---------------------------------------+----------------------------------------+
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| emits governed Work Packet
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v
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+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Cortex Work Packet |
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| route, authority basis, repo scope, allowed paths, forbidden actions, risk, |
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| success criteria, evidence expectations, approval policy |
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+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
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v
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+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Hermes CTO Profile |
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| task contract, backend selection, risk gates, JP escalation, status |
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+--------------------------+-----------------------------+--------------------+
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| |
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| invokes adapter | emits events
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v v
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+------------------------------------------------+ +----------------------------+
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| CTO Harness | | Hermes WebUI |
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| validates backend conformance | | control and replay surface |
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+--------------------+---------------------------+ +----------------------------+
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v
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+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Case Backend |
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| scout -> implementer -> verifier -> reviewer -> closer -> retrospective |
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+--------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------+
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v
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+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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| Target Repository |
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| bounded mutation through PR, diff, logs, tests, review, and evidence |
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+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
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```
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## Execution Rule
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Case is the CTO execution backend, not the CTO authority layer.
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The first integration target should be:
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```text
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cto/harness/runner/case-engine.sh
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```
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The adapter must map:
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```text
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Cortex Work Packet -> Case task file
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Case events/logs -> CTO event envelope
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Case result -> Cortex evidence packet
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```
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## Preserve From Existing CTO Work
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- CTO event vocabulary.
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- Approval gates.
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- Task contract shape.
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- Runtime artifact directory discipline.
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- Allowed-path validation.
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- Health, status, and WebUI summary commands.
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- Fake deterministic cases.
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- Codex and Pi comparative lanes.
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## Decision Candidate
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Adopt Case as the default real-repo code-change backend for CTO.
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Keep the existing CTO harness as the adapter and compliance test surface.
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## Open Questions
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- Which Case task fields map directly to Cortex Work Packet fields?
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- Which Case events need normalization into CTO event envelopes?
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- Where should Case runtime artifacts be stored for child-local evidence?
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- Which approval gates stay in Hermes WebUI versus Case?
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- What focused validator proves Case adapter compliance without claiming Core promotion?
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## Non-Authority Notice
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This brief is child-local planning. It does not promote Case, Hermes CTO, or the CTO harness into Core authority.
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