Rule on foreign-host mode: dormant or cited

[George-RD]

Part of #182

Question

Map-end census: did any decision on this map cite the Outside-framework story? If none, record foreign-host mode dormant in DIRECTION.md and name what only it needs, so the repo stops paying for it. If cited, record where and what that citation demands.

Blocked by

• Design the typed owner identity #188
• Design the deepened Store interface #189
• Design capability-derived tool catalogs #191
• Design disclosure gating on external egress #192
• Design provenance labels with typed identity #193

[coderabbitai]

Coding Plan

Summary

Treat the ticket as an audit that produces a documented ruling, not a code feature.

Run the map-end census over the decisions from map #182 and its blocking issues #188–#193, and check each one for a citation of the Outside-framework story.

Record the ruling in a new root-level DIRECTION.md that follows the existing .raw/ decision-log conventions and the AD-148/D-059 dormant precedent.

Make the result discoverable by linking DIRECTION.md from README.md and reporting the outcome back to the map issue.

Design Choices

Design Choice 1: Where to record the ruling, and in what format

Options Considered:

1. Create a new root-level DIRECTION.md that follows the .raw/openspine-decision-log.md conventions (a "how to use" preamble, an entry with an explicit status/stance, and a cross-reference to the map issue and canon logs).
2. Record the ruling as a new D-0XX entry inside the existing .raw/openspine-decision-log.md and skip creating DIRECTION.md.

Chosen Option: 1

Rationale: The ticket explicitly requires DIRECTION.md, so create it, but align its structure with the existing .raw/ log conventions rather than inventing a new format.

Design Choice 2: Definition of "the map" and the scope of the census

Options Considered:

1. Scope the census to the decisions produced by the map's blocking issues (Design the typed owner identity #188–Design provenance labels with typed identity #193) plus any related canon decision-log entries, since those are the decisions that could have cited the Outside-framework story.
2. Scope the census to the entire repository decision surface (all D-0XX/AD-0XX entries and specs).

Chosen Option: 1

Rationale: The ticket asks specifically whether a decision "on this map" cited the story, so scope the census to the map's decisions and the canon-log entries they produced.

💡 User Tips

Regenerate the plan with different choices with @coderabbitai <feedback>.

Implementation Steps

Phase 1: Conduct the map-end census

This phase gathers the decisions produced under the map and audits each one for a citation of the "Outside-framework story". This phase produces the evidence that drives the ruling. Do not start this phase until the blocking issues (#188–#193) are resolved, because their decisions are the input to the census.

Task 1: Collect the map's decisions

Assemble the complete decision set that the census must audit.

• Read the map issue Wayfinder map: the deepening route — from the 2026-08-20 review to designed specs #182 and each blocking child issue (Design the typed owner identity #188, Design the deepened Store interface #189, Design capability-derived tool catalogs #191, Design disclosure gating on external egress #192, Design provenance labels with typed identity #193) to identify every decision each one settled.
• Cross-reference each settled decision to its canon record in .raw/openspine-decision-log.md (D-0XX) and .raw/openspine-agentos-design-log.md (AD-0XX), if one exists.
• Record the decision set as a working list. Each entry must name the decision ID (or issue), its stance, and its source.

Task 2: Audit each decision for a citation of the Outside-framework story

Determine, per decision, whether it depends on or references the Outside-framework story (the concept that OpenSpine could host or run assistants outside its own framework, the counterpart to the self-hosted model).

• For each decision in the list from Task 1.1, check whether its rationale requires the Outside-framework story to hold. A decision "cites" the story when its correctness depends on foreign-host mode existing.
• Confirm the search scope against the repo. Search docs/, openspec/specs/**, .raw/ logs, and site/src/content/docs/ for any language that names or depends on foreign-host mode or the Outside-framework story. The current repo state contains no such references.
• Classify each decision as CITES or DOES-NOT-CITE. For any CITES result, capture the exact location and the demand it places on foreign-host mode.

Task 3: Determine the ruling

Reduce the per-decision results to a single ruling.

• If no decision cites the Outside-framework story, the ruling is "dormant".
• If one or more decisions cite the story, the ruling is "cited".
• Record the ruling and the supporting evidence list. This ruling is the input to Phase 2.

🤖 Prompt for AI agents

Implement Phase 1: conduct the map-end census that determines whether any
decision produced under epic #182 cited the Outside-framework story. This phase
produces no code changes; it produces the evidence list and ruling that Phase 2
needs.

- Do not start this phase until blocking issues #188, #189, #191, #192, and #193
are resolved. Their decisions are the census input.
- Read map issue #182 and each blocking child issue (#188, #189, #191, #192,
#193) to identify every decision each one settled.
- Cross-reference each settled decision to its canon record in
`.raw/openspine-decision-log.md` (`D-0XX`) and
`.raw/openspine-agentos-design-log.md` (`AD-0XX`), if a record exists. Build a
working list where each entry names the decision ID (or issue), its stance, and
its source.
- For each decision in the list, check whether its rationale requires the
Outside-framework story to hold. Define "cites" as: the decision's correctness
depends on foreign-host mode existing.
- Search the repository to confirm scope: check `docs/`, `openspec/specs/**`,
`.raw/` logs, and `site/src/content/docs/` for any language naming or depending
on foreign-host mode or the Outside-framework story. Note that the current repo
state contains no such references, so this search is expected to confirm "no
citation."
- Classify each decision as CITES or DOES-NOT-CITE. For any CITES result,
capture the exact location and the demand it places on foreign-host mode.
- Reduce the per-decision results to a single ruling: "dormant" if no decision
cites the story, "cited" if one or more decisions cite it.
- Record the ruling and the supporting evidence list as the input to Phase 2.

Phase 2: Record the ruling in DIRECTION.md

This phase creates the new DIRECTION.md artifact and writes the census outcome into it. The content depends on the Phase 1 ruling.

Task 1: Create DIRECTION.md with the tracking convention

Introduce the new root-level artifact and give it a stable structure.

• Create DIRECTION.md at the repository root.
• Add a short "how to use this document" preamble. State that this file records rulings from map-end censuses on strategic direction concepts, and that it cross-references the wayfinder map issues and the canon decision logs.
• Follow the format precedent of .raw/openspine-decision-log.md: an explicit status/stance per entry and cross-references to source issues and D-0XX/AD-0XX entries.

Task 2: Record the foreign-host mode ruling (dormant branch)

Write the ruling when the census found no citation.

• Add an entry for "foreign-host mode" with stance "dormant".
• State that the map-end census under Wayfinder map: the deepening route — from the 2026-08-20 review to designed specs #182 found no decision that cited the Outside-framework story, and cite Design the typed owner identity #188–Design provenance labels with typed identity #193 as the audited decisions.
• Name what only foreign-host mode needs. List the specific code paths, specs, dependencies, or wiring that exist only to support foreign-host mode, so the repo can stop paying for them. Because the repo currently contains no foreign-host references, state explicitly that no code or spec debt is carried for it today, and that the dormant ruling prevents future decisions from assuming the story.
• Reference the AD-148/D-059 dormant convention as the precedent for recording a not-yet-active concept.

Task 3: Record the foreign-host mode ruling (cited branch)

Write the ruling when the census found one or more citations. Use this task instead of Task 2.2 if the ruling is "cited".

• Add an entry for "foreign-host mode" with stance "cited".
• Record each citation location (the decision ID, issue, spec, or doc) that depends on the Outside-framework story.
• Record what each citation demands of foreign-host mode. State the obligation the repo must keep to honor the citation.

🤖 Prompt for AI agents

Implement Phase 2: create `DIRECTION.md` at the repository root and record the
foreign-host mode ruling from Phase 1. Choose the branch below based on the
Phase 1 ruling; use only one branch, not both.

Create the file structure first:
- Create `DIRECTION.md` at the repository root.
- Add a short "how to use this document" preamble stating that this file records
rulings from map-end censuses on strategic direction concepts, and that it
cross-references the wayfinder map issues and the canon decision logs.
- Follow the format precedent of `.raw/openspine-decision-log.md`: give each
entry an explicit status/stance and cross-references to source issues and
`D-0XX`/`AD-0XX` entries.

If the Phase 1 ruling is "dormant", write the dormant branch:
- Add an entry for "foreign-host mode" with stance "dormant".
- State that the map-end census under #182 found no decision that cited the
Outside-framework story, and cite #188–#193 as the audited decisions.
- List the specific code paths, specs, dependencies, or wiring that exist only
to support foreign-host mode, so the repo can stop paying for them. Since the
repo currently contains no foreign-host references, state explicitly that no
code or spec debt is carried for it today, and that the dormant ruling prevents
future decisions from assuming the story.
- Reference the AD-148/D-059 dormant convention as the precedent for recording a
not-yet-active concept.

If the Phase 1 ruling is "cited", write the cited branch instead:
- Add an entry for "foreign-host mode" with stance "cited".
- Record each citation location (the decision ID, issue, spec, or doc) that
depends on the Outside-framework story.
- Record what each citation demands of foreign-host mode, stating the obligation
the repo must keep to honor the citation.

Phase 3: Close the census loop

This phase updates the surrounding tracking artifacts so the ruling is discoverable and the map reflects the completed audit.

Task 1: Link DIRECTION.md from the documentation index

Make the new artifact discoverable.

• Add DIRECTION.md to the "Documentation" table in README.md, next to the existing links to docs/*.md and .raw/*.md.
• If a decision entry was recorded in canon during the census, add a matching D-0XX cross-reference in .raw/openspine-decision-log.md that points to the DIRECTION.md entry.

Task 2: Report the census result on the map

Record the outcome against the wayfinder map so the epic reflects the completed audit.

• Post the ruling and the DIRECTION.md reference back to issue Wayfinder map: the deepening route — from the 2026-08-20 review to designed specs #182, following the Part of #182 child-ticket convention in docs/agents/issue-tracker.md.
• State the ruling (dormant or cited) and link the evidence from Phase 1.

🤖 Prompt for AI agents

Implement Phase 3: close the census loop by making the ruling discoverable and
reporting it back to the wayfinder map.

- Add `DIRECTION.md` to the "Documentation" table in `README.md`, next to the
existing links to `docs/*.md` and `.raw/*.md`.
- If a decision entry was recorded in canon during the census, add a matching
`D-0XX` cross-reference in `.raw/openspine-decision-log.md` that points to the
`DIRECTION.md` entry.
- Post the ruling and the `DIRECTION.md` reference back to issue #182, following
the `Part of #182` child-ticket convention documented in
`docs/agents/issue-tracker.md`.
- In the post to issue #182, state the ruling (dormant or cited) and link the
supporting evidence gathered in Phase 1.

Research

OpenSpine is a self-hosted personal AI system. It uses an OpenSpec change workflow. Decisions live in canon logs: .raw/openspine-decision-log.md (D-0XX IDs, table format) and .raw/openspine-agentos-design-log.md (AD-0XX entries, status vocabulary settled/leaning/open). Issue tracking follows the "wayfinder" pattern in docs/agents/issue-tracker.md, where a wayfinder:map issue holds child tickets marked Part of #<map> and blocking edges Blocked by: #<n>. The repo already has established conventions for "dormant" features (AD-148/D-059: wired but uncalled code, marked inline), "reachability census" audits (D-172: three-column coverage tables), and evidence "citation" (scripts/capability-map.mjs requires named, path-verified evidence). Neither DIRECTION.md, "foreign-host mode", nor "Outside-framework story" exist anywhere in the repository today. This ticket introduces the audit result as a new tracked artifact.

---

🚀 Next Steps

🤖 All AI agent prompts combined

Task: 1

Implement Phase 1: conduct the map-end census that determines whether any
decision produced under epic #182 cited the Outside-framework story. This phase
produces no code changes; it produces the evidence list and ruling that Phase 2
needs.

- Do not start this phase until blocking issues #188, #189, #191, #192, and #193
are resolved. Their decisions are the census input.
- Read map issue #182 and each blocking child issue (#188, #189, #191, #192,
#193) to identify every decision each one settled.
- Cross-reference each settled decision to its canon record in
`.raw/openspine-decision-log.md` (`D-0XX`) and
`.raw/openspine-agentos-design-log.md` (`AD-0XX`), if a record exists. Build a
working list where each entry names the decision ID (or issue), its stance, and
its source.
- For each decision in the list, check whether its rationale requires the
Outside-framework story to hold. Define "cites" as: the decision's correctness
depends on foreign-host mode existing.
- Search the repository to confirm scope: check `docs/`, `openspec/specs/**`,
`.raw/` logs, and `site/src/content/docs/` for any language naming or depending
on foreign-host mode or the Outside-framework story. Note that the current repo
state contains no such references, so this search is expected to confirm "no
citation."
- Classify each decision as CITES or DOES-NOT-CITE. For any CITES result,
capture the exact location and the demand it places on foreign-host mode.
- Reduce the per-decision results to a single ruling: "dormant" if no decision
cites the story, "cited" if one or more decisions cite it.
- Record the ruling and the supporting evidence list as the input to Phase 2.
===============================================================================

Task: 2

Implement Phase 2: create `DIRECTION.md` at the repository root and record the
foreign-host mode ruling from Phase 1. Choose the branch below based on the
Phase 1 ruling; use only one branch, not both.

Create the file structure first:
- Create `DIRECTION.md` at the repository root.
- Add a short "how to use this document" preamble stating that this file records
rulings from map-end censuses on strategic direction concepts, and that it
cross-references the wayfinder map issues and the canon decision logs.
- Follow the format precedent of `.raw/openspine-decision-log.md`: give each
entry an explicit status/stance and cross-references to source issues and
`D-0XX`/`AD-0XX` entries.

If the Phase 1 ruling is "dormant", write the dormant branch:
- Add an entry for "foreign-host mode" with stance "dormant".
- State that the map-end census under #182 found no decision that cited the
Outside-framework story, and cite #188–#193 as the audited decisions.
- List the specific code paths, specs, dependencies, or wiring that exist only
to support foreign-host mode, so the repo can stop paying for them. Since the
repo currently contains no foreign-host references, state explicitly that no
code or spec debt is carried for it today, and that the dormant ruling prevents
future decisions from assuming the story.
- Reference the AD-148/D-059 dormant convention as the precedent for recording a
not-yet-active concept.

If the Phase 1 ruling is "cited", write the cited branch instead:
- Add an entry for "foreign-host mode" with stance "cited".
- Record each citation location (the decision ID, issue, spec, or doc) that
depends on the Outside-framework story.
- Record what each citation demands of foreign-host mode, stating the obligation
the repo must keep to honor the citation.
===============================================================================

Task: 3

Implement Phase 3: close the census loop by making the ruling discoverable and
reporting it back to the wayfinder map.

- Add `DIRECTION.md` to the "Documentation" table in `README.md`, next to the
existing links to `docs/*.md` and `.raw/*.md`.
- If a decision entry was recorded in canon during the census, add a matching
`D-0XX` cross-reference in `.raw/openspine-decision-log.md` that points to the
`DIRECTION.md` entry.
- Post the ruling and the `DIRECTION.md` reference back to issue #182, following
the `Part of #182` child-ticket convention documented in
`docs/agents/issue-tracker.md`.
- In the post to issue #182, state the ruling (dormant or cited) and link the
supporting evidence gathered in Phase 1.

💡 Iterate on the plan with: @coderabbitai <feedback>

Example Feedback
- @coderabbitai You can skip phase 3. Add a simple unit test case for phase 2.
- @coderabbitai For design choice 1 go ahead with option 3 and replan.

---

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[coderabbitai]

I've updated the plan above based on your feedback. Ready to proceed when you are!

[coderabbitai]

I've updated the plan above based on your feedback. Ready to proceed when you are!

[George-RD]

Resolution. Census of every decision on map #182: the typed owner identity (#197), deepened Store interface (#208), capability-derived tool catalogs (#209), external-egress disclosure gate (#204), and provenance labels (#220) cite Lyra, Bell, the Unattended workhorse, and the Auditor; the roadmap cohesion pass cites the Bell roadmap. No decision cited the Outside-framework story → foreign-host mode is DORMANT, recorded in DIRECTION.md (commit on main). Nothing whose only consumer is foreign-host mode may be built or preserved; the idea returns only via a redrawn destination as a fresh effort.