Cheddar Framework

Cheddar is a PM/accountability framework for AI-augmented organizations. It aligns missions, initiatives, tasks, and automation through signed, traceable artifacts that humans and AI share.

Quick Start

1. Understand the model: Read docs/domain-model.md for entity definitions
2. Know the rules: Review docs/invariants.md for non-negotiable guarantees
3. See examples: Browse schemas/examples/ for canonical artifact formats
4. Explore concepts: Dive into the documentation below

Documentation Map

Core Reference (Start Here)

• docs/domain-model.md — canonical entity definitions, terminology, and relationships
• docs/invariants.md — non-negotiable rules and enforcement mechanisms
• schemas/ — canonical artifact schemas and examples

Conceptual Guides

• docs/overview.md — purpose, origin, and core philosophies
• docs/alignment-fabric.md — how stacked artifacts merge into combined_context.yaml
• docs/artifact-hierarchy.md — mission → initiative → track → automation → personal chain
• docs/documentation-governance.md — append-only logs, lineage, and dashboard signals
• docs/personal-artifacts.md — applying the chain to individual and non-engineering work
• docs/ai-integration.md — AI participation and safeguards across layers
• docs/governance-ethics.md — ethical guardrails and policy enforcement
• docs/intent-graphs.md — replacing tickets with intent graph workflows
• docs/embodiment.md — embodied QA and sensorimotor participation

Architecture Decisions

• docs/adr/ — Architecture Decision Records
• docs/adr/ADR-001-hierarchy-is-canonical.md — Artifact hierarchy is canonical; intent graphs are derived views

Repository Status

Component	Status	Location
Domain model	[EXISTS]	docs/domain-model.md
Invariants	[EXISTS]	docs/invariants.md
Schema examples	[EXISTS]	schemas/examples/
JSON Schema definitions	[EXISTS]	schemas/*.schema.json
Conceptual docs	[EXISTS]	docs/
Architecture decisions	[EXISTS]	docs/adr/
Validation tooling	[EXISTS]	lint/
Example artifacts	[PLANNED]	artifacts/
Python package	[PLANNED]	src/

Status Markers:

• [EXISTS] — Present and functional
• [REQUIRED] — Must exist for v1.0
• [PLANNED] — Intended future capability

Meta-Rule

Cheddar must never claim reality it cannot enforce.

See docs/invariants.md for the complete set of guarantees.