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