Reference Instance
The reference instance applies Truth Machine semantics to one domain: the Truth Machine project and its current specification.
It is intentionally concrete. Its packet schemas and Git workflow are examples that can be tested, not a universal runtime for other domains.
Account map
Section titled “Account map”| Path | Meaning |
|---|---|
reference/current.toml |
Typed selection of current accepted records |
reference/evidence/ |
Source claims and exact-revision implementation reviews |
reference/records/ |
Immutable reviewed project and specification accounts |
reference/changes/ |
Exact transitions against canonical revisions |
reference/publications/ |
Frozen public release and delivery records after publication |
scripts/truth_state.py |
Offline, read-only governed reader |
schemas/ |
Reference packet and result schemas |
Local commit gate
Section titled “Local commit gate”Truth Machine uses a versioned local pre-commit hook rather than remote CI. Activate it once per checkout:
task hooks:installThe hook refuses a partially staged or untracked worktree, selects the correct
accepted or proposal read mode, and runs the complete test, schema, generated-
artifact, site, and patch-hygiene contract. task check:staged invokes the same
gate directly. A deliberate Git hook bypass is not verification evidence for
exact review.
Accepted bootstrap
Section titled “Accepted bootstrap”The 0.1.0 transition was accepted as TMC-0001 on 2026-08-09 against canonical
seed revision cc03fe06a40ee80076887d4fad36d512a8f086c2. It introduced the first
accepted selection across all four reference domains.
Exact proposal review used:
python3 scripts/truth_state.py --worktree --allow-proposedThat mode validated proposed records without making them current. Accepted
canonical origin/main now must pass:
python3 scripts/truth_state.pyDomains
Section titled “Domains”The initial reference account declares four domains:
foundation— project identity, scope, ownership, and maturity;core-specification— the normative 0.1 semantic requirements;conformance-model— bounded claims, schemas, fixtures, and assessment;publication-contract— canonical sources and derived human/AI forms.
No publication record exists merely because the site can build. TMP-0001
freezes the first accepted artifact, records its hashes, identifies its
operations-owned deployment and rollback, and preserves the independently
verified public state. An accepted packet remains immutable; a later artifact
or lifecycle observation receives a new packet that may identify the exact
packet it supersedes.
Why self-hosting is not self-proof
Section titled “Why self-hosting is not self-proof”The repository cannot establish conformance by declaring itself conformant. Its reader and tests provide evidence. Its accepted change supplies authority. Its publication record supplies release identity. A conformance report must still assess each requirement and state public audit limits.