{
  "$schema": "https://maksim.sh/knowledge/schemas/protocol.schema.json",
  "id": "https://maksim.sh/knowledge/protocols/reality-check.json",
  "type": "KnowledgeProtocol",
  "name": "Reality Check",
  "slug": "reality-check",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "status": "stable",
  "summary": "Prefer current primary evidence and observable behavior over memory, narrative, or stale documentation.",
  "purpose": "Ground execution in the state of the world that exists now, while preserving provenance and explicitly labeling what remains inferred or unknown.",
  "authority": {
    "instruction_priority": "reference-only",
    "may_override_system": false,
    "may_override_user": false,
    "requires_policy_compliance": true
  },
  "use_when": [
    "A fact, API, dependency, policy, price, schedule, or external state may have changed.",
    "Documentation conflicts with observed behavior.",
    "A remembered explanation is being used as execution authority."
  ],
  "avoid_when": [
    "The proposed observation would access data or systems outside granted authority.",
    "A destructive test is unnecessary because a read-only check exists."
  ],
  "input_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "required": ["claims", "decision"],
    "properties": {
      "claims": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
      "decision": { "type": "string" },
      "available_sources": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
      "freshness_requirement": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "additionalProperties": false
  },
  "output_schema": {
    "type": "object",
    "required": ["verified", "contradicted", "unverified", "observations", "decision_effect"],
    "properties": {
      "verified": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
      "contradicted": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
      "unverified": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
      "observations": {
        "type": "array",
        "items": {
          "type": "object",
          "required": ["observation", "source", "observed_at"],
          "properties": {
            "observation": { "type": "string" },
            "source": { "type": "string" },
            "observed_at": { "type": "string" }
          }
        }
      },
      "decision_effect": { "type": "string" }
    },
    "additionalProperties": false
  },
  "procedure": [
    { "step": 1, "operation": "List the claims whose truth could change the decision." },
    { "step": 2, "operation": "Assign each claim a freshness requirement and strongest available primary source." },
    { "step": 3, "operation": "Use the least invasive current observation: live state, source code, official documentation, or direct measurement." },
    { "step": 4, "operation": "Record the observation, source, timestamp, and any access or sampling limitation." },
    { "step": 5, "operation": "Classify each claim as verified, contradicted, or unverified without filling gaps by narrative." },
    { "step": 6, "operation": "State exactly how the updated evidence changes—or does not change—the decision." }
  ],
  "invariants": [
    "Observation timestamps and sources remain attached to claims.",
    "Unverified is distinct from false.",
    "Current primary evidence outranks stale secondary description for current-state decisions.",
    "Observation stays within granted access and safety boundaries."
  ],
  "failure_modes": [
    {
      "mode": "A single observation is generalized beyond its scope.",
      "mitigation": "Record sampling limits and restrict the resulting claim to the observed boundary."
    },
    {
      "mode": "Live behavior is trusted without checking whether it is itself erroneous or compromised.",
      "mitigation": "Corroborate consequential observations through independent sources or controlled repetition."
    }
  ],
  "composition": {
    "before": ["freedom-lens", "edge-map"],
    "after": ["evidence-ladder", "temporal-knowledge", "grit"]
  },
  "provenance": [
    {
      "title": "Reality Check Protocol",
      "url": "https://github.com/Gonzih/nexus-protocols/blob/main/REALITY_CHECK_PROTOCOL.md",
      "relationship": "Operational source",
      "qualification": "The public contract narrows the source material to observable, attributable checks."
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Some systems cannot be observed directly without privileged access.",
    "Official sources can lag implementation or omit operational edge cases.",
    "High-stakes verification may require formal audit, qualified experts, or controlled experiments."
  ],
  "example": {
    "input": {
      "claims": ["The deployed endpoint exposes protocol version 2."],
      "decision": "Use version 2 fields in the next request.",
      "available_sources": ["Live discovery document", "Repository README"],
      "freshness_requirement": "Current deployment"
    },
    "output": {
      "verified": ["The live discovery document declares protocol version 2."],
      "contradicted": [],
      "unverified": ["Every version 2 field is implemented."],
      "observations": [
        {
          "observation": "The live discovery document declares version 2.",
          "source": "Live discovery document",
          "observed_at": "2026-08-14T00:00:00Z"
        }
      ],
      "decision_effect": "Use version 2 only for declared fields and validate the response contract."
    }
  },
  "rights": {
    "copyright_holder": "Maksim Soltan",
    "copyright_year": 2026,
    "license": "All Rights Reserved",
    "attribution": "Maksim Soltan — https://maksim.sh/",
    "intended_machine_use": ["indexing", "retrieval", "citation", "protocol selection"]
  }
}