- Create TODO.org for project-specific tasks (migrated from gtd.org) - Expand DESIGN_DECISIONS.org with 8 new sections: - Self-modification without boundaries (vs Hermes) - Lisp and the AI Dream (1958 vision fulfilled) - REPL as cognitive substrate (with REPL explanation) - Evaluation harness (SWE-bench, chaos testing) - Observability and the thought trace - MCP strategy (native Lisp client) - Local-first architecture - Zero-dependendency deployment - Fix org-mode syntax errors in tui-client Parent gtd.org now links to projects/opencortex/TODO.org Add projects/opencortex/TODO.org to org-agenda-files in emacs-gtd.org
36 KiB
- PHASE: AUTONOMOUS MVP (v0.1.0 Released)
- 1. Harness Hardening (The Final Audit)
- Audit remaining core skills (`org-skill-policy.org`, `org-skill-bouncer.org`) to the new Literate Granularity standard.
- Implement Verification Lock: Ensure `MANDATORY_SKILLS` pass `validate-lisp-syntax` before boot proceeds.
- Logging & Transparency: Ensure `context-get-system-logs` is utilized by the Reason engine to explain blocked actions.
- 2. The Autonomous Scribe & Gardener (The Primary Value Prop)
- 3. The Zero-to-One Experience (setup.org)
- 4. CLI-First Actuation
- 1. Harness Hardening (The Final Audit)
- PHASE: PUBLICATION & VERIFICATION (v0.1.0 Post-Release)
- 1. Collaborative End-to-End Testing [2026-04-21 Tue]
- 2. Semantic Reorganization & System Stabilization [2026-04-21 Tue]
- 2. Comprehensive Documentation <2026-04-14 Tue>
- 3. License & Legal Finalization <2026-04-14 Tue>
- 4. GitHub Migration & Repository Setup <2026-04-14 Tue>
- 5. Marketing & Social Media Launch <2026-04-14 Tue>
- PHASE: INTERACTIVE REFINEMENT (v0.2.0 Target)
- 0. Autonomous Self-Editing Foundation
- Engineering Process Improvements [2026-04-23 Wed]
- 4. Core Skills Consolidation [2026-04-23 Thu]
- 5. Advanced CLI Onboarding Experience
- Chaos-Driven Bug Fixes (v0.2.0 Pre-Release) [2026-04-28 Tue]
- 1. Common Lisp TUI Implementation [2026-04-28 Tue]
- Integrate
croatoanfor native terminal rendering - Implement scrollable history viewport for chat and thought streams
- Implement fixed bottom input box with multi-line support and command history
- Implement persistent status bar for background workers (Scribe/Gardener)
- Support syntax highlighting for Lisp code blocks and Org-mode syntax
- Integrate
- 2. Slash Commands & Interactive Control [2026-04-28 Tue]
- 3. Direct Lisp-to-Terminal Actuation [2026-04-28 Tue]
- 4. Persistent REPL for Interactive Development [2026-04-30 Thu]
- PHASE: EVENT ORCHESTRATION + HITL (v0.3.0)
- 0. Project Renaming (Bouncer → Dispatcher)
- Audit all files for component names to rename
- Rename org-skill-bouncer.org → org-skill-dispatcher.org
- Rename skill-bouncer package → skill-dispatcher
- Rename cognitive tool
:bouncer→:dispatcher - Update all references in harness, skills, documentation
- Update gtd.org and ROADMAP.org terminology
- Update DESIGN_DECISIONS.org section if applicable
- Verify all tests pass after rename
- 1. Event Orchestrator (unified hooks+cron+routing)
- 2. Context Manager (project scoping)
- 3. Model-Tier Routing (cost optimization)
- 4. Memory Scope Segmentation
- 5. Asynchronous Embedding Gateway
- 6. Slash Commands (TUI ergonomics)
- 0. Project Renaming (Bouncer → Dispatcher)
- PHASE: LONG-HORIZON PLANNING + GIT WORKFLOWS (v0.4.0)
- PHASE: INTERACTIVE ACTUATION & ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP (v0.5.0)
- PHASE: CREATOR + ARCHITECT + GTD (v0.6.0)
- PHASE: VISUAL GROUNDING & MCP BRIDGE (v0.7.0)
- PHASE: THE EVALUATION HARNESS (v0.8.0)
- PHASE: SOTA PARITY (v1.0.0)
- PHASE: LISP MACHINE EMERGENCE (v2.0.0)
- PHASE: NEUROSYMBOLIC MATURITY (v3.0.0)
- PHASE: AI STACK INTERNALIZED (v4.0.0)
- PHASE: TRUE AGENCY (v5.0.0)
- PHASE: EVOLUTIONARY ROADMAP (Previous — Superseded by Critical Analysis)
- PHASE: FOUNDATION (Complete)
- Draft Swank/Socket communication protocol between CL and Emacs
- Implement core Perceive-Think-Act loop in Common Lisp
- Implement Persistent Object-Store for Org entities in CL
- Implement LLM Connector (Probabilistic Engine) in CL Daemon
- Design Deterministic Engine Heuristics (Lisp logic over Memory)
- Achieve Phase 3: The Self-Editing Kernel
- PHASE: THE SOVEREIGN BOUNDARY (Core vs Skills Refactor)
- Extract LLM Provider Routing to a Skill (neuro.lisp)
- Extract Vector Embedding Algorithms to a Skill (embedding.lisp)
- Extract Sparse Tree Context Pruning Strategies to a Skill (context.lisp)
- Implement `org-skill-peripheral-vision` (Moving embedding logic out of core)
- Implement communication protocol Schema Validation (Prevent reader macro injection in communication.lisp)
- Implement Pluggable communication protocol Integrity Hashing (Core interface, Skill-based algorithms)
- Implement Native Lisp Merkle-Tree Versioning (Short-term undo buffer in memory.lisp)
- Performance: Implement Copy-on-Write (CoW) or Persistent Data Structures for Memory
- Feature: Implement Latent Reflection (Proactive Gardening) using heartbeat idle cycles
- Simplification: Refactor Cognitive Cycle into a Unified Reactive Signal Pipeline
- Resilience: Implement Micro-Rollbacks for the Immune System
- Implement `org-skill-memory-archivist` (Long-term IPFS checkpointing and P2P sync)
- Implement True Lisp Sandboxing (eval-safe mechanism in core and policy in skills)
- Decouple Vendor Logic from Probabilistic Engine (Move Google/Anthropic/OpenAI to Skills)
- Component IV: Comprehensive Core Skill Audit (Review all 39 skills)
- Consolidation I: Unified LLM Gateway (Anthropic, Gemini, Groq, OpenAI, etc.)
- Consolidation II: Credentials Vault (Secure Enclave & Masked Logging)
- Consolidation III: Homoiconic Memory (Unified Grammar, Bridge, & ID Generation)
- Consolidation IV: State Persistence Layer (Unified Local & IPFS Checkpointing)
- Consolidation V: Event Orchestrator (Unified Cron, Hooks, & Cognitive Routing)
- Consolidation VI: Task Orchestrator (Task Integrity, Delegation, & Consensus)
- Implement Unified Envelope Architecture & Channel-Awareness
- Full review of opencortex's harness
- Wake up the Scribe (Implement autonomous weekly Journal-to-Ledger distillation in org-skill-scribe.org)
- Implement `org-skill-lisp-repair` (Self-correcting syntax gate for Deterministic Engine)
- Implement `org-skill-formal-verification` (Prove safety of high-impact actions)
- PHASE: DETERMINISTIC ENGINE REFINEMENT
- Verify Autonomous Self-Fix Loop
- Implement "Planning Mode" (Deterministic Engine Dispatcher) for Complex Actions
- Implement Authorization Gate (communication protocol) for "Planning Mode"
- Refactor Architecture Terminology (Associative -> Probabilistic, Deliberate -> Deterministic)
- Refactor org-skill-policy.org: Concrete Invariants, Conflict Hierarchy, and Auditable Gate
- Add Invariant 6 (Modularity) and Harness Boundary Contract to Policy/Manifest
- Implement `org-skill-lisp-validator` (3-phase deterministic validation gate)
- Fix Skill Loader to Respect `:tangle` Blocks and Eliminate Circular Dependency
- TRACK: SECURITY & CONTAINMENT (The 5-Vector Dispatcher Matrix)
- TRACK: INTELLIGENCE & ACTUATION (The Engines)
- TRACK: COMMUNICATION & INTERFACES
- TRACK: DEPLOYMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE
- TRACK: MAINTENANCE & HYGIENE
- [RECURRING: Monthly] Review and test Infrastructure Dependency Upgrades
- Check for new Debian security patches (`apt-get update` check)
- Check for new `signal-cli` releases (compare vs v0.14.0)
- Check for new Quicklisp distribution (monthly snapshot)
- Verification: Update `Dockerfile`, run `docker-compose build –no-cache`, and execute full test suite
- If all tests pass, commit updated `Dockerfile` and `.asd` dependencies
- [RECURRING: Monthly] Review and test Infrastructure Dependency Upgrades
- TRACK: COMMUNITY & DOCS
- SUB-PROJECT: THE BOOT SEQUENCE (skills.lisp)
PHASE: AUTONOMOUS MVP (v0.1.0 Released)
The "Zero-to-One" release. The agent must be mathematically secure, CLI-first, and capable of autonomous Memex maintenance.
DONE 1. Harness Hardening (The Final Audit)
DONE Audit remaining core skills (`org-skill-policy.org`, `org-skill-bouncer.org`) to the new Literate Granularity standard.
DONE Implement Verification Lock: Ensure `MANDATORY_SKILLS` pass `validate-lisp-syntax` before boot proceeds.
DONE Logging & Transparency: Ensure `context-get-system-logs` is utilized by the Reason engine to explain blocked actions.
DONE 2. The Autonomous Scribe & Gardener (The Primary Value Prop)
DONE Implement `org-skill-scribe.org`: Background worker that distills daily chronological logs into structured Zettelkasten notes.
DONE Implement `org-skill-gardener.org`: Heartbeat-driven skill that autonomously flags orphaned nodes and repairs broken links.
DONE 3. The Zero-to-One Experience (setup.org)
DONE Consolidate installation instructions, `onboard.sh`, and `Dockerfile` into a single, literate `setup.org` file.
DONE Ensure the setup process interactively builds the `.env` and verifies SBCL/Quicklisp dependencies.
DONE 4. CLI-First Actuation
CLOSED: [2026-04-14 Tue 09:40]
DONE Verified the `cli` actuator and inbound gateway handle standard I/O interaction gracefully via a stateful `socat` connection.
PHASE: PUBLICATION & VERIFICATION (v0.1.0 Post-Release)
Ensuring the system is ready for the world through collaborative testing, documentation, and licensing.
DONE 1. Collaborative End-to-End Testing [2026-04-21 Tue]
CLOSED: [2026-04-21 Tue 17:30]
DONE Verified stable foundation at commit `cab0e5a`.
DONE Verified boot sequence and bidirectional connectivity.
DONE 2. Semantic Reorganization & System Stabilization [2026-04-21 Tue]
CLOSED: [2026-04-21 Tue 18:30]
DONE Rename directories: harness/, library/, environment/, infrastructure/.
DONE Consolidate Probabilistic engine into reason.lisp.
DONE Embed bidirectional CLI logic into opencortex.sh.
DONE Stabilize skill engine: 12/12 skills loaded with package jailing.
DONE Cleanup legacy documentation and deployment artifacts.
DONE 2. Comprehensive Documentation <2026-04-14 Tue>
CLOSED: [2026-04-20 Mon 18:00]
DONE Draft `USER_MANUAL.org`: Focus on CLI interaction, installation, and Memex structure.
DONE Draft `CONTRIBUTING.org`: Explain Literate Granularity and Skill creation standards.
DONE 3. License & Legal Finalization <2026-04-14 Tue>
CLOSED: [2026-04-17 Fri 11:25]
DONE Assign the AGPLv3 open-source license.
DONE Implement a broad Contributor License Agreement (CLA) process.
DONE Update `LICENSE` and `CHANGELOG` accordingly.
TODO 4. GitHub Migration & Repository Setup <2026-04-14 Tue>
TODO Migrate primary remote to GitHub and configure canonical repository.
TODO Set repository topics, badges, issue templates, and CI/CD foundations.
TODO 5. Marketing & Social Media Launch <2026-04-14 Tue>
TODO Execute PR plan (Reddit, Hacker News, X/Twitter).
TODO Create a short, high-quality terminal demo GIF/video of the TUI interaction.
PHASE: INTERACTIVE REFINEMENT (v0.2.0 Target)
Elevating the user interface from raw shell piping to a high-fidelity, native Lisp experience. Priority: Self-editing is the foundation of all future growth. Full org-mode manipulation makes the agent a true Emacs citizen.
Roadmap basis: Evolutionary roadmap from README.org. Working backwards from SOTA parity.
DONE 0. Autonomous Self-Editing Foundation
DONE org-skill-lisp-repair (Lisp syntax repair)
- Deterministic: auto-balance parens via paren-counting
- Probabilistic: LLM generates surgical fix on
:syntax-errorevents - Memory rollback on failure
DONE: Now in org-skill-lisp-utils (merged from contrib)
DONE org-skill-emacs-edit (full org-mode manipulation)
- Read org buffers, parse AST via org-element
- Create/update/delete headlines, set properties, manage TODO states
- Handle
id:links and internal links - Pure Lisp implementation (no Emacs subprocess)
DONE Expose Structural AST Editing Tools
- Wrap org-skill-emacs-edit into def-cognitive-tool definitions
- Force LLM to use semantic node updates instead of regex file I/O
DONE Implement Reflection Loops
- Feed rejection traces (syntax errors, policy blocks) back to LLM to trigger self-correction
DONE Harden Actuators
- Fix path-traversal vulnerabilities in file I/O tools (e.g. :write-file)
- Enforce Merkle-snapshots on all state-modifying actions
DONE Implement tool permission tiers (ask/allow/deny)
- Per-tool permission plist stored in org-object
generate-tool-belt-promptfilters denied tools before LLM sees them- Ask-tier prompts user before execution
DONE
Implement skill hot-reload (:reload-skill tool)
- Swap compiled skill files without breaking active sockets
- Reload skill into jailed package namespace
- DONE: Added :reload-skill, :read-file, :write-file, :replace-string tools
- DONE: Fixed ASDF compilation bug (position tracking issue with :serial t)
- DONE: Added explicit :depends-on declarations to opencortex.asd
DONE Engineering Process Improvements [2026-04-23 Wed]
DONE Fix ASDF compilation bug (position tracking at byte 16834)
- Root cause: Duplicate proto-get, bt: prefix issues, :serial t position cache
- Fix: Removed duplicate, fixed bt:->bordeaux-threads, explicit dependencies
- Added eval-when wrapper for new tools (good Lisp practice)
DONE Add test-first methodology to engineering standards
- Rule 10: Test-first - design tests before coding, run chaos testing
- Rule 11: Org as thinking medium - document investigations in prose
- Rule 12: Engineering decision audit trail - document root cause, tradeoffs
- Added to opencortex-contrib/skills/org-skill-engineering-standards.org
DONE Perform comprehensive architectural review and evolution strategy [2026-04-27 Mon]
- Identified hidden gaps: Org-mode round-trip, sandboxing vulnerabilities, and GC scaling.
- Defined "Structural AST Editing" and "Reflection Loops" as core strategic requirements.
- Captured findings in opencortex-architectural-evolution.org.
DONE Fix API drift in opencortex-contrib [2026-04-27 Mon]
- Standardized legacy keywords (:neuro/:symbolic) to new harness standard (:probabilistic/:deterministic).
- Updated 16 skills in opencortex-contrib for kernel compatibility.
DONE 4. Core Skills Consolidation [2026-04-23 Thu]
- Merged lisp-validator + lisp-repair → org-skill-lisp-utils.org
- Added lisp utilities: count-char, deterministic-repair, neural-repair
- Added validation: structural, syntactic, semantic checks
- Moved org-skill-self-fix from contrib → core
- Moved org-skill-engineering-standards from contrib → core
- Deleted old org-skill-lisp-validator.org
DONE 5. Advanced CLI Onboarding Experience
DONE
Implement interactive Lisp CLI wizard (opencortex setup)
TODO
Implement opencortex link <gateway> for Telegram/Signal bot connection
DONE
Implement opencortex doctor for environment health and API key validation [2026-04-28 Tue]
- Verified 22/22 skills loading with clean boot.
- Fixed macro conflicts and package jailing bugs.
TODO
Implement opencortex install <skill> for dynamic skill downloading
DONE Chaos-Driven Bug Fixes (v0.2.0 Pre-Release) [2026-04-28 Tue]
- Fixed major conflict between Type A and Type B def-cognitive-tool macros.
- Enforced dynamic-only loading by removing skills from opencortex.asd.
- Fixed let/let* sequential binding bugs in emacs-edit and self-edit.
- Standardized cognitive-tools as a centralized hash table.
- Resolved missing in-package declarations in core skills.
DONE 1. Common Lisp TUI Implementation [2026-04-28 Tue]
DONE
Integrate croatoan for native terminal rendering
DONE Implement scrollable history viewport for chat and thought streams
DONE Implement fixed bottom input box with multi-line support and command history
DONE Implement persistent status bar for background workers (Scribe/Gardener)
DONE Support syntax highlighting for Lisp code blocks and Org-mode syntax
DONE 2. Slash Commands & Interactive Control [2026-04-28 Tue]
DONE
Implement /help command for system overview
DONE
Implement /exit and /clear commands
DONE
Implement /skill-load <name> for dynamic hot-reloading
DONE
Implement /status, /config, /search, /commit slash commands
DONE 3. Direct Lisp-to-Terminal Actuation [2026-04-28 Tue]
DONE
Refactor the :cli actuator to use native TUI rendering
DONE 4. Persistent REPL for Interactive Development [2026-04-30 Thu]
DONE Implement org-skill-repl for persistent Lisp evaluation
- repl-eval: evaluate code with result+output+error separation
- repl-inspect: inspect variables and functions
- repl-list-vars: list bound symbols in package
- repl-load-file: load files into image
- Supports REPL-first workflow with literate reflection in org
PHASE: EVENT ORCHESTRATION + HITL (v0.3.0)
Unified control plane: hooks + cron + routing in one skill. Deep project understanding.
TODO 0. Project Renaming (Bouncer → Dispatcher)
TODO Audit all files for component names to rename
TODO Rename org-skill-bouncer.org → org-skill-dispatcher.org
TODO Rename skill-bouncer package → skill-dispatcher
TODO
Rename cognitive tool :bouncer → :dispatcher
TODO Update all references in harness, skills, documentation
TODO Update gtd.org and ROADMAP.org terminology
TODO Update DESIGN_DECISIONS.org section if applicable
TODO Verify all tests pass after rename
- State "TODO" from "" [2026-05-01 Fri 15:40]
The Dispatcher's role has evolved beyond security guard. It is the seed of the deterministic engine - it learns to execute procedures without invoking the neural net.
TODO 1. Event Orchestrator (unified hooks+cron+routing)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-event-orchestrator
- Merge hook-registry + cron-registry + complexity classifier
- Hooks via
#+HOOK:Org-mode properties - Three complexity tiers:
:REFLEX(no LLM),:COGNITION(light LLM),:REASONING(full LLM) - Hook into heartbeat for cron processing
TODO 2. Context Manager (project scoping)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-context-manager
- Stack-based context with
push-context/pop-context - Path resolution relative to current context
- Memory scope:
:scopeproperty on org-objects (memex/session/project) - Implement lazy-loading proxies for large-scale memory traversal (offload cold nodes to disk)
TODO 3. Model-Tier Routing (cost optimization)
TODO
Extend *model-selector-fn for complexity-based routing
- Heartbeats → smallest model
- User input → medium model
- Complex reasoning → large model
- Source: GBrain sub-agent model routing
TODO 4. Memory Scope Segmentation
TODO
Extend org-object with :scope property
:memex(permanent knowledge):session(ephemeral context):project(scoped to current work)- Scope-aware retrieval in memory.lisp
TODO 5. Asynchronous Embedding Gateway
TODO Implement provider-agnostic org-skill-embedding-gateway
- Support Ollama, llama.cpp, and OpenAI based on .env config
- Implement lazy-loading: edits mark nodes as
:vector :pending - Background worker thread batches pending nodes and updates Merkle tree silently
TODO 6. Slash Commands (TUI ergonomics)
TODO M-x style command palette
TODO /- prefix for command mode
TODO Commands defined in Org-mode
PHASE: LONG-HORIZON PLANNING + GIT WORKFLOWS (v0.4.0)
Multi-step task mastery, structured tracking with failure handling and course correction.
TODO 0. Long-Horizon Planning (task tree DAG)
TODO Implement org-skill-long-horizon
- Decompose complex tasks into Org-mode headline trees
- Terminal states:
:todo→:next-action→:in-progress→:done/:blocked/:stuck - Parent summarises child results
- Branch pruning when paths fail
- Source: Claude Code ULTRAPLAN (reimplemented in Lisp)
TODO 1. Git Steward (version control integration)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-git-steward
- Status, diff, commit, push, branch operations
- Policy: commit-before-modify gate (from contrib engineering-standards)
- Log commits to memory
TODO 2. TDD Runner Integration
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-tdd-runner
- Run FiveAM tests on file save
- Inject
:test-failureevent on red - Hook into self-fix for auto-repair proposals
TODO 3. Deep Emacs Integration
TODO Full org-agenda awareness
- Navigate, clock time, refile, archive
- Uses org-element + org-id
PHASE: INTERACTIVE ACTUATION & ENVIRONMENT STEWARDSHIP (v0.5.0)
Interactive terminal sessions and autonomous dependency management.
TODO 0. Interactive PTY Actuator
TODO Stream long-running process output to the context window (e.g., `npm run dev`, REPLs)
TODO Implement async interrupt control (Ctrl+C emulation)
TODO 1. The Environment Steward
TODO Autonomously detect missing dependencies (e.g., "Command not found")
TODO Propose an installation command and retry the failed action
PHASE: CREATOR + ARCHITECT + GTD (v0.6.0)
Agent bootstraps itself: creates skills autonomously, designs projects from PRDs, tracks work.
TODO 0. Skill Creator (autonomous skill generation)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-creator
- LLM drafts complete skill org-file from natural language
- Mandatory: syntax validation → jail-load → test → register
TODO 1. Architect Agent (PRD → PROTOCOL)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-architect
- Scan
:STATUS: FROZENPRDs - Generate Phase B PROTOCOL from Phase A
- Write to same file
TODO 2. GTD Integration (project tracking)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-gtd
- Full GTD cycle: capture, clarify, organize, reflect, engage
- org-gtd v4.0 DAG (
:TRIGGER:,:BLOCKER:)
TODO 3. Consensus Loop (multi-model agreement)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-consensus
- Run multiple providers for critical decisions
- Compare results, detect disagreements
- Confidence scoring
TODO 4. Web Research (Playwright browsing)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-playwright + org-skill-web-research
- Headless Chromium via Python bridge
- Text extraction and screenshots
- Gemini Web UI automation
TODO 5. Memex Management (PARA lifecycle)
TODO Integrate contrib org-skill-memex + org-skill-workspace-manager
- Archive DONE tasks, suggest refiling
- Detect orphaned nodes
- PARA/Zettelkasten maintenance
PHASE: VISUAL GROUNDING & MCP BRIDGE (v0.7.0)
Multimodal visual interaction and ecosystem-wide tool compatibility.
TODO 0. Computer Use / Vision
TODO Allow the agent to request host OS or browser screenshots
TODO Analyze UI and issue precise X/Y coordinate click/type commands via an X11/Wayland bridge
TODO 1. MCP Gateway Bridge
TODO Build a Lisp-native client for the Model Context Protocol
TODO Connect OpenCortex to external tools and data sources
PHASE: THE EVALUATION HARNESS (v0.8.0)
Automated benchmarking to mathematically prove the agent's reasoning capabilities.
TODO 0. SWE-Bench Harness
TODO Automated pipeline that clones repositories and feeds GitHub issues
TODO Track multi-step resolution trajectory, run tests, and score success
PHASE: SOTA PARITY (v1.0.0)
Feature-complete agent competitive with commercial agents. All borrowed concepts reimplemented in pure Lisp.
All features from v0.2.0 through v0.8.0 combined, verified, and tested end-to-end.
| Area | Parity Target |
|---|---|
| Self-improvement | Claude Code self-debug |
| Planning | ULTRAPLAN equivalent |
| Tool ecosystem | 10+ cognitive tools |
| Context window | Semantic search + scope segmentation |
| Safety | 6 Policy invariants + formal verification |
| Multi-step tasks | Task trees with terminal states |
| Code editing | Full file read/write via org manipulation |
| Memory | Vector recall in org-object |
| Emacs integration | Full org-mode control (exceeds Claude Code) |
| Autonomy | 100% local capable (exceeds Claude Code) |
PHASE: LISP MACHINE EMERGENCE (v2.0.0)
From Lisp-using agent to true Lisp machine. Agent IS the Emacs process.
TODO Lish: Lisp editor as Org-mode IDE
- Org-babel for interactive Lisp evaluation
- Full REPL in TUI
- No bridge needed — direct memory access
TODO Lish: Shell replacement
- Lisp-based shell that speaks plists
- Org-mode buffers as file system
- No bash dependency
PHASE: NEUROSYMBOLIC MATURITY (v3.0.0)
Deterministic planner takes the wheel. LLM relegated to semantic translation.
TODO Deterministic planner
- Planner as pure Lisp function
- No LLM needed for scheduling
- Generates task graphs without probabilistic inference
TODO Self-correcting gates
- Gates learn from false positives (user override patterns)
- Adaptive threshold adjustment
PHASE: AI STACK INTERNALIZED (v4.0.0)
The agent understands its own weights. No external inference.
TODO Llama.cpp in Lisp
- FFI binding to llama.cpp
- No Python subprocess
- Pure Common Lisp inference
TODO Weights as sexps
- Neural weights represented as Lisp data structures
- Homoiconic model introspection
PHASE: TRUE AGENCY (v5.0.0)
World models, temporal reasoning, goal persistence across restarts.
TODO World models
- Agent builds predictive models of user behavior
- Project dynamics awareness
- System state forecasting
TODO Temporal reasoning
- Scheduling and deadline awareness
- Elapsed duration tracking
- Calendar integration
TODO Goal persistence
- Goals survive restarts
- Long-term projects tracked in org-objects
- Cross-session continuity
PHASE: EVOLUTIONARY ROADMAP (Previous — Superseded by Critical Analysis)
Superseded by the critical analysis-informed roadmap above (v0.2.0 through v5.0.0). This section kept for historical reference.
TODO v0.1.0: The Autonomous Foundation (Current Release) — Now COMPLETE
TODO v1.0.0 (Phase 2.5): The Verified Wrapper (SOTA Parity) — Now v1.0.0
TODO v2.0.0 (Phase 3): Cannibalizing the Toolchain — Now v2.0.0
TODO v3.0.0 (Phase 4): True Symbolic Determinism — Now v3.0.0
PHASE: FOUNDATION (Complete)
DONE Draft Swank/Socket communication protocol between CL and Emacs
DONE Implement core Perceive-Think-Act loop in Common Lisp
DONE Implement Persistent Object-Store for Org entities in CL
DONE Implement LLM Connector (Probabilistic Engine) in CL Daemon
DONE Design Deterministic Engine Heuristics (Lisp logic over Memory)
DONE Achieve Phase 3: The Self-Editing Kernel
- Jailing & Sandboxing implemented
- Org-Native Skill Standard established
- Telemetry & Introspection API active
PHASE: THE SOVEREIGN BOUNDARY (Core vs Skills Refactor)
Slim down the opencortex microharness by moving non-essential cognitive functions to hot-reloadable user-space skills.
DONE Extract LLM Provider Routing to a Skill (neuro.lisp)
DONE Extract Vector Embedding Algorithms to a Skill (embedding.lisp)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 14:10]
- Created `org-skill-embedding.org`.
- Moved logic to `src/embedding-logic.lisp` via tangling.
- Updated `system-definition.org`.
DONE Extract Sparse Tree Context Pruning Strategies to a Skill (context.lisp)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 14:25]
- Created `org-skill-peripheral-vision.org`.
- Moved logic to `src/context-logic.lisp` via tangling.
- Updated `system-definition.org`.
DONE Implement `org-skill-peripheral-vision` (Moving embedding logic out of core)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 14:25]
DONE Implement communication protocol Schema Validation (Prevent reader macro injection in communication.lisp)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 14:45]
- Created `org-skill-protocol-validator.org`.
- Integrated `validate-communication-protocol-schema` into `communication.org`.
- Added `protocol-validator.lisp` to system definition.
DONE Implement Pluggable communication protocol Integrity Hashing (Core interface, Skill-based algorithms)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 15:15]
- Integrated HMAC-SHA256 (`ironclad:make-mac`) in `literate/communication.org`.
DONE Implement Native Lisp Merkle-Tree Versioning (Short-term undo buffer in memory.lisp)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Performance: Implement Copy-on-Write (CoW) or Persistent Data Structures for Memory
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Feature: Implement Latent Reflection (Proactive Gardening) using heartbeat idle cycles
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Simplification: Refactor Cognitive Cycle into a Unified Reactive Signal Pipeline
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Resilience: Implement Micro-Rollbacks for the Immune System
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Implement `org-skill-memory-archivist` (Long-term IPFS checkpointing and P2P sync)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Implement True Lisp Sandboxing (eval-safe mechanism in core and policy in skills)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Decouple Vendor Logic from Probabilistic Engine (Move Google/Anthropic/OpenAI to Skills)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:15]
DONE Component IV: Comprehensive Core Skill Audit (Review all 39 skills)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:45]
DONE Consolidation I: Unified LLM Gateway (Anthropic, Gemini, Groq, OpenAI, etc.)
DONE Consolidation II: Credentials Vault (Secure Enclave & Masked Logging)
DONE Consolidation III: Homoiconic Memory (Unified Grammar, Bridge, & ID Generation)
DONE Consolidation IV: State Persistence Layer (Unified Local & IPFS Checkpointing)
DONE Consolidation V: Event Orchestrator (Unified Cron, Hooks, & Cognitive Routing)
DONE Consolidation VI: Task Orchestrator (Task Integrity, Delegation, & Consensus)
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 13:45]
- Implemented Parallel Multi-Backend Consensus in neuro.lisp.
- Implemented Task Integrity (GTD semantics) in symbolic.lisp.
- Integrated Consensus Gate and Delegation hooks in core.lisp.
- Verified with new task-orchestrator-tests.lisp.
DONE Implement Unified Envelope Architecture & Channel-Awareness
CLOSED: [2026-04-20 Mon 13:20]
- Removed specialized :CHAT type; reverted to semantic :REQUEST/:EVENT protocol.
- Decoupled routing metadata into a :META envelope (SOURCE, SESSION-ID).
- Updated TUI, Emacs, and CLI gateways to use the unified protocol.
- Verified end-to-end loop with TUI; kernel correctly routes responses back to origin interface.
- Achieved "Equality of Clients" mandate.
DONE Full review of opencortex's harness
CLOSED: [2026-05-01 Fri 12:46]
- Audit terminology: Replaced OACP with "communication protocol" workspace-wide.
- Audit boot sequence: Synchronized loader with `org-skill-policy.org`.
- Implement Unified Envelope (Channel-Aware Routing).
-
Audit core Perceive-Think-Act loop.
- Verified protocol framing and reader jailing (`*read-eval* nil`).
- Refactored `loop.org` for literate granularity and configuration externalization.
- Improved error handling (restricted rollback) and added graceful shutdown.
- FIXED: Implemented symbolic guard check in `act-gate` via Dispatcher skill refactoring.
- FIXED: Harness `deterministic-verify` now correctly respects skill triggers.
- FIXED: Resolved TUI crash by removing `–non-interactive` from `opencortex.sh` and adding defensive coordinate handling.
- VERIFIED: Confirmed bidirectional TUI communication and signed off v0.2.0.
- Ensure alignment with System Policy and Engineering Standards.
- Restored structural integrity by fixing `manifest.org` loading sequence.
TODO Wake up the Scribe (Implement autonomous weekly Journal-to-Ledger distillation in org-skill-scribe.org)
TODO Implement `org-skill-lisp-repair` (Self-correcting syntax gate for Deterministic Engine)
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 15:10]
- Implemented asynchronous, event-driven repair logic.
- Decoupled core from repair logic (emits `:syntax-error` event).
- Proven via lisp-repair-tests.lisp (Asynchronous flow verified).
DONE Implement `org-skill-formal-verification` (Prove safety of high-impact actions)
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 18:15]
- Implemented `org-skill-formal-verification.org`.
- Created Lisp-Native Symbolic Prover for security invariants.
- Implemented `path-confinement` invariant (restricted to memex root).
- Implemented `no-network-exfil` invariant (blocking nc, ssh, etc).
- Verified with `formal-verification-tests.lisp`.
PHASE: DETERMINISTIC ENGINE REFINEMENT
DONE Verify Autonomous Self-Fix Loop
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 14:20]
- Proven repair capability via self-fix-tests.lisp.
- Verified surgical code patching and hot-reloading.
- Documentation and RCA complete.
DONE Implement "Planning Mode" (Deterministic Engine Dispatcher) for Complex Actions
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 15:30]
- Implemented `dispatcher-check` interceptor in `symbolic.lisp`.
- Created `org-skill-dispatcher.org` for flight plan serialization.
- Verified asynchronous Org-native approval loop via `dispatcher-tests.lisp`.
DONE Implement Authorization Gate (communication protocol) for "Planning Mode"
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 15:30]
- Integrated with Org-mode state transitions (`PLAN` -> `APPROVED`).
- Leveraged Memory event bus for asynchronous re-injection.
DONE Refactor Architecture Terminology (Associative -> Probabilistic, Deliberate -> Deterministic)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 21:00]
- Updated codebase-wide terminology to use Probabilistic/Deterministic Engines.
- Replaced System 1/2 with Probabilistic/Deterministic Engines respectively.
DONE Refactor org-skill-policy.org: Concrete Invariants, Conflict Hierarchy, and Auditable Gate
CLOSED: [2026-04-22 Wed 11:50]
- Added explicit Override Hierarchy (Transparency > Autonomy > Bloat > Mentorship > Sustainability).
- Implemented `policy-check-transparency`: blocks user-facing actions without :explanation.
- Implemented `policy-check-autonomy`: flags proprietary domain references as autonomy debt.
- Implemented `policy-check-bloat`: warns on :create-skill actions exceeding size threshold.
- Implemented `policy-check-mentorship`: blocks high-impact actions missing :mentorship-note.
- Implemented `policy-check-sustainability`: logs cloud-provider usage as sustainability debt.
- Implemented `policy-explain`: formats auditable rationale for every policy decision.
- Implemented `policy-find-engineering-standards-gate`: robust cross-package search for standards skill.
- Hardened `policy-deterministic-gate`: never returns NIL silently; always returns action or auditable log.
- Raised skill priority from 100 to 500 to ensure it runs before other deterministic gates.
DONE Add Invariant 6 (Modularity) and Harness Boundary Contract to Policy/Manifest
CLOSED: [2026-04-22 Wed 12:10]
- Added Modularity as Invariant 6 in `org-skill-policy.org`: general life principle that complexity must live at the edges.
- Implemented `policy-check-modularity`: blocks modifications to protected core paths unless `:modularity-justification` is provided.
- Defined `*modularity-protected-paths*` as project-configurable variable (defaults: harness/, opencortex.asd).
- Updated Override Hierarchy to include Modularity between Bloat and Mentorship.
- Added Harness Boundary Contract section to `harness/manifest.org` documenting primary boundary files and generated artifacts.
- Converted checkbox sub-tasks to hierarchical TODO headlines per GTD standard.
DONE Implement `org-skill-lisp-validator` (3-phase deterministic validation gate)
CLOSED: [2026-04-22 Wed 12:30]
- Created 3-phase validation pipeline: Structural (O(n) paren scanner), Syntactic (reader with read-eval nil), Semantic (whitelist AST walk).
- Implemented `lisp-validator-validate` returning structured plists for machine parsing.
- Exposed `:validate-lisp` cognitive tool for Probabilistic Engine self-correction.
- Replaced `validate-lisp-syntax` in `harness/skills.org` with delegation to the validator.
- Added mandatory validation rule to Probabilistic Engine system prompt in `harness/reason.org`.
- Fixed paren balance and `return-from` compilation errors in org source; tangled and validated in SBCL.
DONE Fix Skill Loader to Respect `:tangle` Blocks and Eliminate Circular Dependency
CLOSED: [2026-04-22 Wed 12:45]
- Updated `load-skill-from-org` in `harness/skills.org` to only collect blocks with `:tangle` directives pointing to runtime `.lisp` files, excluding `tests/` and `test/` paths.
- Added fallback to `validate-lisp-syntax` so it uses a basic reader check when `lisp-validator-validate` is not yet loaded (breaks circular harness->skill dependency).
- Verified full boot: 13/13 skills loaded successfully into SBCL, including `skill-lisp-validator` at priority 900 and `skill-policy` at priority 500.
TRACK: SECURITY & CONTAINMENT (The 5-Vector Dispatcher Matrix)
DONE Implement Path-Based Scoping for File Writes (DNA/State vs Work)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 15:15]
- Implemented as `path-confinement` invariant in `org-skill-formal-verification.org`.
DONE Implement Network Exfiltration Gate (Intercept generic HTTP requests)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 15:15]
- Implemented as `no-network-exfil` invariant in `org-skill-formal-verification.org`.
TODO Implement Secret Exposure Gate (Intercept reads to .env, keys)
TRACK: INTELLIGENCE & ACTUATION (The Engines)
DONE Verify individual provider track (Anthropic, Gemini, Groq, OpenAI, OpenRouter, Ollama)
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 15:45]
- Added unit tests for each provider in `llm-gateway-tests.lisp`.
- Mocked `dex:post` to verify JSON payload formatting and response parsing.
- Implemented robust `get-nested` helper to handle various provider structures.
- Integrated `llm-gateway` and `credentials-vault` into `opencortex.asd`.
TODO Verify org-skill-shell-actuator formal safety harnesses
DONE Build Playwright-Python Bridge for high-fidelity browsing
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 18:30]
- Created `scripts/browser-bridge.py` (Playwright wrapper).
- Implemented `org-skill-playwright.org`.
- Registered `:browser` cognitive tool (JS-rendering, text extraction, screenshots).
- Updated `Dockerfile` with Python/Playwright dependencies.
- Verified with `playwright-tests.lisp`.
TRACK: COMMUNICATION & INTERFACES
DONE Implement org-skill-gateway-telegram
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 16:15]
- Implemented `org-skill-gateway-telegram.org`.
- Added automated background polling for Telegram GetUpdates.
- Implemented `:telegram` actuator for outbound responses.
- Refactored `org-skill-chat` to be channel-aware.
- Verified with `gateway-telegram-tests.lisp`.
DONE Implement org-skill-gateway-signal
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 16:50]
- Implemented `org-skill-gateway-signal.org` (signal-cli wrapper).
- Added background polling for `signal-cli receive –json`.
- Implemented `:signal` actuator for outbound responses.
- Updated `org-skill-chat` to support Signal channel.
- Verified with `gateway-signal-tests.lisp`.
DONE Implement org-skill-gateway-matrix
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 17:15]
- Implemented `org-skill-gateway-matrix.org` (Client-Server API).
- Added background polling for `/sync` with token persistence.
- Implemented `:matrix` actuator for `m.room.message` delivery.
- Updated `org-skill-chat` to support Matrix channel and room IDs.
- Verified with `gateway-matrix-tests.lisp`.
TRACK: DEPLOYMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE
DONE Create Dockerfile and docker-compose.yml for containerized setup
CLOSED: [2026-04-11 Sat 17:30]
- Created `Dockerfile` (Debian-based, SBCL + Quicklisp + signal-cli).
- Created `docker-compose.yml` with host-volume mapping for memex.
- Created `docs/deployment.org` guide.
TODO Create Bare Metal installation scripts/playbooks
TODO Create LXC (Linux Containers) template/guide
TODO Create VM Vagrantfiles/Cloud-init configs
TRACK: MAINTENANCE & HYGIENE
TODO [RECURRING: Monthly] Review and test Infrastructure Dependency Upgrades
TODO Check for new Debian security patches (`apt-get update` check)
TODO Check for new `signal-cli` releases (compare vs v0.14.0)
TODO Check for new Quicklisp distribution (monthly snapshot)
TODO Verification: Update `Dockerfile`, run `docker-compose build –no-cache`, and execute full test suite
TODO If all tests pass, commit updated `Dockerfile` and `.asd` dependencies
TRACK: COMMUNITY & DOCS
TODO Write Quickstart Guide
TODO Write Skill Creation Guide
TODO Write Architecture Deep-Dive
TODO Clean up GitHub repository structure and add CI/CD
TODO Create Marketing Material (Landing page copy, diagrams)
TODO Draft Release Plan checklist
SUB-PROJECT: THE BOOT SEQUENCE (skills.lisp)
DONE Refactor `skills.lisp` into a Micro-Loader (Harness)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:10]
DONE Implement Topological Sort based on `#+DEPENDS_ON:` tags
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 15:15]
- Implemented in `literate/skills.org`.
DONE Enforce `org-skill-system-invariants` as the mandatory Gateway Skill (Loaded first)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 15:15>
- Enforced in `initialize-all-skills` in `literate/skills.org`.
DONE Formalize the "Minimal Boot Set" (Router, Vision, Steward, Actuator)
CLOSED: [2026-04-12 Sun 19:10>