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VariableRecord — Semantic Specification

1. Definition

A VariableRecord is an immutable semantic fact representing the value of a Variable at a specific moment, optionally attributed to a source and contextualized by metadata.

It is the atomic unit of historical truth for a Variable.

2. Declaration

A VariableRecord exists if and only if it satisfies the following minimal structure:

  • A unique identity key issued by KeyAuthority
  • A concrete value
  • Optional temporal anchoring
  • Optional source attribution
  • Optional epistemic qualifiers (confidence, metadata, explanation)

Minimal declaration requirements:

  • Exactly one identity Key
  • Exactly one value
  • All other fields are optional and non-identifying

A VariableRecord cannot exist without identity assignment by KeyAuthority.

3. Semantic Invariants

Properties that MUST hold for all valid VariableRecords.

  • I1: Identity Uniqueness Each VariableRecord is uniquely identified by its Key.

  • I2: Identity Immutability The identity Key of a VariableRecord MUST NOT change after creation.

  • I3: Value Fixity The value of a VariableRecord MUST NOT change after creation.

  • I4: Semantic Atomicity A VariableRecord represents exactly one factual assertion.

  • I5: Authority-Originated Identity The identity Key MUST originate from KeyAuthority.

Any violation invalidates the record.

4. Negative Definition

A VariableRecord is NOT:

  • a Variable
  • a container for multiple values
  • a mutable state
  • a temporal process
  • responsible for conflict resolution
  • responsible for historical aggregation

5. Impossibilities

States or operations that cannot occur.

  • A VariableRecord cannot change its value
  • A VariableRecord cannot change its identity
  • Two VariableRecords cannot share the same Key
  • A VariableRecord cannot exist without KeyAuthority-issued identity
  • A VariableRecord cannot represent multiple facts

6. Boundary Conditions

Defined behavior at semantic limits.

  • Empty / null: A VariableRecord without optional fields (time, source, confidence, explanation, metadata) is valid.

  • Degenerate: A VariableRecord with a null value is invalid.

  • Temporal boundary: Absence of time implies the record is temporally unanchored.

  • Resource exhaustion: Behavior is undefined if identity issuance fails.

If undefined, it MUST be stated explicitly.

7. Composition Rules

Semantic combination constraints.

Allowed

  • Variable ∘ VariableRecord → VariableHistory
  • VariableRecord ∘ TimePoint → Temporally anchored fact

Forbidden

  • VariableRecord ∘ VariableRecord (records do not merge)
  • VariableRecord ∘ Variable (records do not define variables)
  • VariableRecord ∘ Key (identity cannot be reassigned)

8. Example (Non-Normative)

Examples do not define semantics.

from procela.core.memory import VariableRecord
from procela.symbols import Key, TimePoint

record = VariableRecord(
    value=42.0,
    time=TimePoint(),
    source=Key()
)
record.describe()

9. Validation Rules

How violations are detected.

  • Static: Identity field is not user-declarable.

  • Runtime: Any attempt to mutate a record raises an error.

  • Structural: Records with non-authority-issued Keys are invalid.

Validation enforces semantics; it does not define them.

10. Semantic Notes (Non-Binding)

  • Records are intentionally minimal and immutable
  • Identity is separated from content
  • Records enable full historical traceability
  • Higher-level reasoning (conflicts, anomalies, explanations) occurs at the Variable level
  • This design favors semantic clarity over convenience