Kernel & Router

Rules split into two layers: a small kernel that always loads, and a larger set the router activates on demand.

The kernel — 9 Iron-Law rules

The kernel is a fixed set of 9 Iron-Law rules loaded on every session, unconditionally, in every profile. They can never be overridden by a skill, command, or guideline:

agent-authority · ask-when-uncertain · commit-policy · direct-answers · language-and-tone · no-cheap-questions · non-destructive-by-default · scope-control · verify-before-complete.

Membership requires an Iron-Law fence, mode-independence, a pre-send/pre-act gate, and cross-cutting scope; each fence is SHA-locked so edits cannot silently weaken it (see kernel-membership.md).

The router

Every non-kernel rule declares, in frontmatter:

• triggers: — keyword / phrase / intent / file-pattern / path-prefix / command.
• routes_to: — the artifact that carries its body (skill: / guideline: / command: / contract:).

A compiler reads all rule frontmatter and emits dist/router.json — a deterministic lookup table with kernel, tier_1, tier_2, and profiles.

How a rule loads

1. The host reads dist/router.json once at session start.
2. Every turn, it evaluates the kernel.
3. If the discipline profile is off/minimal, it stops there.
4. Otherwise it walks tier-1 (and tier-2 when full), activating any rule whose triggers match the prompt, open files, or invoked command — loading its body and routed skills for that turn.

flowchart TD
  start["Session start:<br/>read dist/router.json"] --> kernel["Every turn:<br/>evaluate the 9 Iron-Law kernel rules"]
  kernel --> prof{"discipline profile?"}
  prof -->|off / minimal| stop["Kernel only"]
  prof -->|essential / full| walk["Walk tier-1 (+ tier-2 if full):<br/>activate rules whose triggers match<br/>prompt / files / command"]
  walk --> load["Load matched rule bodies<br/>+ routed skills for this turn"]

There is no runtime profile resolution; matching is pure keyword/phrase/path/ intent lookup. See rule-router.md for the full contract, and Configuration → Profiles for how the discipline profile selects tiers.