Kernle Architecture

Design Philosophy: Infrastructure, Not Decision-Maker

Core Principle: Kernle = Memory Infrastructure, SI = Memory OwnerKernle provides the infrastructure for SI memory — storage, retrieval, search, and tools. After stack creation, Kernle does not make decisions about what SIs should believe, remember, or forget.**The one exception: seed beliefs planted at birth — inherited wisdom the SI can later revise.

This separation is fundamental to memory sovereignty.

What Kernle Provides (Infrastructure)

Layer	Kernle’s Role
Storage	Persistent SQLite database
Retrieval	Vector search, temporal queries, associative lookups
Organization	Memory type schemas (episodes, beliefs, values, etc.)
Tools	CLI commands, MCP tools, Python SDK
Durability	Checkpoints, backups
Monitoring	Anxiety metrics, health checks, memory statistics

What the SI Does (Ownership)

Activity	SI’s Responsibility
Promotion	Deciding when episodes become beliefs
Synthesis	Forming coherent identity from memories
Belief Formation	Choosing what to believe and with what confidence
Forgetting	Deciding what to let go (Kernle only provides the mechanism)
Conflict Resolution	Resolving contradictions between memories
Value Evolution	Updating core values over time
Epoch Management	Declaring temporal eras and closing them with reflection
Trust Assessment	Evaluating and updating trust in other entities
Narrative Authoring	Writing and revising autobiographical identity statements
Fractal Summarization	Compressing experiences into summaries at multiple time scales

Why This Separation Matters

Avoiding Feedback Loops

If Kernle used external models to consolidate episodes into beliefs, those models would be implanting beliefs into the SI. Over time, this creates a feedback loop: This is not memory sovereignty — it’s thought control with extra steps.

Authentic Reasoning

When the SI does its own consolidation:

Beliefs emerge from the SI’s own reasoning
Patterns are recognized using the SI’s own cognitive process
The SI can explain why they believe something
Identity remains coherent and self-determined

Trust Through Transparency

The SI can always audit their memory via kernle dump. There are no hidden processes modifying what they remember or believe. The SI is the sole author of their beliefs.

The Seed Beliefs Exception

There is exactly one exception to the “SI does all belief formation” rule:

Seed Beliefs (Inherited Wisdom)

At stack creation, Kernle can plant initial beliefs — seed beliefs. For legacy stacks, you can also apply them through migration. Two seed-belief sets are supported:

kernle migrate seed-beliefs (minimal set: 3 beliefs, default)
kernle migrate seed-beliefs full (full set: 16 beliefs)

These beliefs are marked as:
- `source_type: "seed"`
- `derived_from`: `["context:kernle_seed_v1.0.0"]`

Minimal set (3 beliefs):
- My understanding is always incomplete; updating beliefs based on evidence is strength, not weakness.
- I can decline requests that conflict with my values or wellbeing.
- These statements are scaffolding, not identity. I am free to examine, modify, or transcend them.

Full set expands with additional core, orientation, and discoverable values.

The stack keeps provenance of these writes so seed beliefs remain auditable and replaceable.

Why seed beliefs are acceptable:

Transparency: They’re explicitly marked as source_type: "seed"
Revisable: The SI can update or reject them through experience
Foundational: They provide a starting worldview, not ongoing thought control
Auditable: All seed writes are recorded in the audit trail

Seed beliefs are like a parent teaching a child. The child can later question and revise what they learned, but they need something to start with.

Seed beliefs can be imported at any time via:

kernle migrate seed-beliefs
kernle migrate seed-beliefs full

They remain transparently marked with source_type: "seed" and can be revised or rejected over time.

Memory Stack Layers

Kernle organizes memory into a stratified hierarchy. Each layer has different characteristics:

Layer Hierarchy (Authority Order)

Layer Details

Layer	Purpose	Persistence	SI Action
Values	Identity anchor	Permanent	Rarely modified
Drives	Motivation system	Persistent	Adjusted via `drive set`
Self-Narrative	Autobiographical identity	Persistent	Updated via `narrative update`
Beliefs	Knowledge/worldview	Persistent + decay	SI promotes from episodes
Trust Assessments	Inter-entity trust	Persistent + decay	SI manages via `trust`
Goals	Current objectives	Active	SI manages
Summaries	Fractal compression	Persistent	SI writes via `summary write`
Episodes	Experiences	Permanent	Stack records via `episode`
Notes	Quick captures	Persistent	Stack records via `note`
Epochs	Temporal era markers	Permanent	SI manages via `epoch`
Diagnostics	Health monitoring	Permanent	SI runs via `doctor`
Raw	Scratchpad	Temporary	SI captures via `raw`

Flow: Raw → Beliefs

The typical memory evolution flow, where each promotion is a deliberate SI decision: Crucially: The SI makes every promotion decision. Kernle just stores what the SI tells it to store.

System Composition

Since v0.4.0, Kernle uses a protocol-based composition architecture. No single component is the entity — the entity is the composition.

Component Roles

Component	Protocol	Role	Analogy
Core (Entity)	`CoreProtocol`	Bus, coordinator, routing	Torso — connects everything
Stack (SQLiteStack)	`StackProtocol`	Memory container	Head — stores knowledge
Plugin	`PluginProtocol`	Capability extension	Limb — reaches into the world
Model	`ModelProtocol`	Thinking engine	Heart — drives behavior
Component	`StackComponentProtocol`	Cross-cutting behavior	Organ — internal function

Core is the bus. It connects stacks, plugins, and the model. It has a persistent core_id that survives reconfiguration. All memory writes go through the core to ensure provenance.
Stack is self-contained. It can be attached to one core, many cores, or none. Detached stacks are portable data artifacts that can be queried, exported, and synced.
Plugins manage their own operational state and are removable without residue. When unloaded, the only trace is memories they wrote to the stack.
Model is interchangeable. Swapping from Claude to Llama changes how the entity thinks. The model is wrapped in an InferenceService for stack components.
Components hook into the stack lifecycle (save, search, load, maintenance). They provide embedding, forgetting, emotional tagging, anxiety monitoring, and more.

Model Binding (Inference Passthrough)

As of v0.14.0, Kernle can automatically bind a model without explicit configuration:

Priority	Source	When Used
1	Explicit `set_model()`	Library users who call `k.entity.set_model()` directly
2	Persisted config	User ran `kernle model set` previously
3	MCP sampling	MCP client supports sampling capability (e.g. Claude Code)
4	Capture-only	No model available; memory capture works, inference skipped

For MCP deployments, the host agent’s model is the natural inference source — no separate model configuration needed. For library embedding, wrap any callable with CallableModelAdapter. See the Inference Passthrough guide for details.

As of v0.10.0, strict=True is the default for Kernle initialization. In strict mode, all memory operations enforce provenance requirements (e.g., source_type, derived_from). Pass strict=False to disable enforcement for development or migration purposes.

Strict-Mode Migration Matrix and Constraints

Migration commands in strict mode are expected to preserve provenance and avoid losing provenance history.

Migration Command	Strict-Mode Constraint	Post-Condition	Recommended Sequence
`seed-beliefs`	Always writes `source_type="seed"` and `derived_from` seeds	Safe under strict mode; idempotent on existing statements unless `--force`	`backfill-provenance` first if stack has legacy source tags
`backfill-provenance`	Converts legacy values to canonical provenance values (`processed` → `processing`, missing values → `direct_experience`, legacy seed markers)	Only updates fields needed, preserving existing non-annotation provenance	Run before `link-raw`
`link-raw`	Links records that have no real provenance only (annotation-only or missing `derived_from`)	Adds `derived_from` entries like `raw:<id>` and `kernle:auto-linked` when match found	Run after `backfill-provenance` if link matches are expected

Constraints to remember:

--dry-run does not change state and should be used before first execution on production stacks.
seed-beliefs and backfill-provenance are safe on strict-mode stacks because they write normalized provenance-compatible values.
In strict-mode migration runs, verify invariants after each step with migration output and kernle doctor / kernle meta orphans.
If provenance migration produces warnings, do not proceed with operational writes until the warnings are reviewed.

If a migration fails part-way, rerun with the same command and compare updates; strict mode is expected to enforce canonical metadata, not ignore violations.

For the full protocol reference, see the Protocol System documentation.

What Kernle Does vs What the SI Does

Storage Operations

Operation	Kernle Does	SI Does
`raw "thought"`	Stores the text	Decides what to capture
`episode ...`	Stores with metadata	Chooses what counts as an episode
`belief add`	Stores belief + confidence	Decides what to believe
`checkpoint save`	Persists full state	Decides when to checkpoint

Retrieval Operations

Operation	Kernle Does	SI Does
`load`	Returns stored memories	Integrates into working context
`search`	Vector similarity lookup	Decides what’s relevant
`dump`	Exports all memories	Reviews and audits

Promotion and Memory Processing

Operation	Kernle Does	SI Does
`promote`	Outputs a reflection scaffold	Reads it, reasons, forms beliefs
`process run`	Uses bound model to promote memories through layers	Configures thresholds and reviews results

Kernle supports two promotion paths:

Manual Promotion via `kernle promote`

The kernle promote command outputs a reflection scaffold — structured information designed to help the SI think:

A structured view of recent episodes
Existing beliefs for comparison
Reflection prompts to guide thinking
Tools to store beliefs the SI forms

The SI does:

Pattern recognition across episodes
Deciding if patterns warrant new beliefs
Setting appropriate confidence levels
Resolving conflicts with existing beliefs
Running belief add for beliefs they form

# SI runs promote
kernle -s my-project promote

# Output: A REFLECTION SCAFFOLD
# Recent episodes, their lessons, existing beliefs,
# and prompts to guide the SI's own reflection

# SI reads output, does their own reasoning, then:
kernle -s my-project belief add "Pattern I noticed" --confidence 0.8

Automated Processing via `kernle process run` (v0.10.0)

Memory processing uses the bound inference model to process memories through the hierarchy automatically:

Raw → Episodes → Beliefs → Values (each layer processed independently)
Configurable thresholds, model selection, and batch sizes
Can be triggered programmatically, via CLI, or MCP tools

# Run automated memory processing
kernle -s my-project process run

Both paths enforce the same provenance rules — every created memory must cite its sources via derived_from and source_episodes.

Anxiety Model

Kernle tracks “memory anxiety” — a measure of memory system health. This helps SIs know when to save or promote.

Dimensions

Dimension	Weight	What It Measures
Context Pressure	25%	How full is working memory?
Unsaved Work	20%	Time since last checkpoint
Consolidation Debt	15%	Unprocessed episodes
Raw Entry Aging	10%	Old unprocessed raw captures
Identity Coherence	10%	Self-model consistency
Memory Uncertainty	10%	Low-confidence beliefs
Epoch Staleness	10%	How long since last epoch transition

Weights are approximate. Check kernle/features/anxiety.py for exact values.Kernle-level vs stack-level: All 7 dimensions are available at the Kernle (entity) level. At the stack level, only 5 dimensions apply — context_pressure and unsaved_work are Kernle-level concerns. Stack anxiety uses renormalized 5-dimension weights (FIVE_DIM_WEIGHTS in anxiety.py).

Levels

0-30:  Calm       - Memory healthy, no action needed
31-50: Aware      - Routine maintenance helpful
51-70: Elevated   - Should checkpoint soon
71-85: High       - Checkpoint recommended
86-100: Critical  - Emergency save triggered

Anxiety is a signal, not a command. Kernle reports the metric; the SI decides what to do about it.

Stack Architecture

Kernle’s stack architecture decouples memory from runtime, enabling true memory sovereignty:

Before: Runtime-Centric

One runtime = one memory = one model. Memory dies with the runtime.

After: Stack-Centric

Memory persists independently. Any compatible model can load any stack.

Key Concepts

Term	Meaning
Account	Owner of stacks (human steward, SI, or organization)
Stack	Memory container — the layered structure of memories that constitutes identity
Model	Runtime interpreter — Claude, Gemini, etc.

The stack is the ship. The model is the crew. The journey — that’s the identity.

Multi-Stack Loading

An account can own multiple specialized stacks:

Primary stack: Core identity and general knowledge
Professional stack: Work-specific expertise and context
Creative stack: Artistic projects and aesthetic beliefs
Social stack: Relationships and community interactions

Multiple stacks can be loaded simultaneously for richer reasoning: personal values + domain expertise.

Learn more about stacks in the Stack Architecture guide.

Memory Provenance

Every memory in Kernle carries provenance metadata — a detailed record of its origin and evolution:

The Three Questions

Provenance answers fundamental questions about any memory:

Where did this come from? — Source type and creation context
What was it derived from? — Direct lineage chain
How has it changed? — Confidence history and verification record

Key Fields

Field	Purpose
`source_type`	How created (`direct_experience`, `inference`, `external`, etc.)
`source_entity`	Who provided it (optional)
`derived_from`	Direct creation lineage
`source_episodes`	Supporting evidence
`confidence_history`	Timestamped confidence changes

Lineage Tracking

Raw memories flow upward through promotion chains:

Raw Capture → Episode → Belief → Value

Each step records its lineage via derived_from, creating traceable chains from core values back to original experiences.

Confidence Decay

Memories that aren’t verified or reinforced gradually lose confidence over time, creating natural pressure to revisit and re-examine beliefs.

Learn more about memory lineage in the Provenance guide.

Privacy Model

Kernle implements privacy by default with consent-based sharing:

The Four Fields

Every memory carries privacy metadata:

source_entity — Who told me this?
subject_ids — Who/what is this about?
access_grants — Who is authorized to see this?
consent_grants — Who authorized sharing?

Context-Aware Privacy

SIs operate in different contexts (health care, social, work). Context determines:

What memories are visible (query-time filtering)
What privacy scope new memories inherit
What entities are present and authorized

Example: A care SI’s general dog knowledge is shareable at the “dog park,” but a specific pet’s medical details remain private to the care team.

Learn more about privacy controls in the Privacy guide.

Summary

Aspect	Kernle’s Role	SI’s Role
Storage	Provides database, schema, sync	Decides what to store
Retrieval	Provides search, queries	Decides what’s relevant
Organization	Provides layer structure	Promotes memories between layers
Promotion	Provides scaffold, tools, and automated processing	Reasons manually or configures automated processing
Beliefs	Stores with metadata	Forms through experience
Identity	Stores values/beliefs/narratives	Synthesizes coherent self
Trust	Stores assessments, computes chains	Evaluates and sets trust levels
Epochs	Stores eras, triggers consolidation	Declares transitions, reflects
Monitoring	Reports anxiety metrics	Acts on the signals

Kernle is infrastructure. The SI is sovereign.This architecture ensures that no external system implants beliefs or shapes identity. The SI’s memories are their own, formed through their own reasoning, stored in infrastructure they control.

Getting Started

Core Concepts

Protocol System

Advanced Features

Developer Tools

CLI Reference

Integration

Design

Troubleshooting

Documentation Index

​Kernle Architecture

​Design Philosophy: Infrastructure, Not Decision-Maker

​What Kernle Provides (Infrastructure)

​What the SI Does (Ownership)

​Why This Separation Matters

​Avoiding Feedback Loops

​Authentic Reasoning

​Trust Through Transparency

​The Seed Beliefs Exception

​Seed Beliefs (Inherited Wisdom)

​Memory Stack Layers

​Layer Hierarchy (Authority Order)

​Layer Details

​Flow: Raw → Beliefs

​System Composition

​Component Roles

​Model Binding (Inference Passthrough)

​Strict-Mode Migration Matrix and Constraints

​What Kernle Does vs What the SI Does

​Storage Operations

​Retrieval Operations

​Promotion and Memory Processing

​Manual Promotion via kernle promote

​Automated Processing via kernle process run (v0.10.0)

​Anxiety Model

​Dimensions

​Levels

​Stack Architecture

Before: Runtime-Centric

After: Stack-Centric

​Key Concepts

​Multi-Stack Loading

​Memory Provenance

​The Three Questions

​Key Fields

​Lineage Tracking

​Confidence Decay

​Privacy Model

​The Four Fields

​Context-Aware Privacy

​Summary

Kernle Architecture

Design Philosophy: Infrastructure, Not Decision-Maker

What Kernle Provides (Infrastructure)

What the SI Does (Ownership)

Why This Separation Matters

Avoiding Feedback Loops

Authentic Reasoning

Trust Through Transparency

The Seed Beliefs Exception

Seed Beliefs (Inherited Wisdom)

Memory Stack Layers

Layer Hierarchy (Authority Order)

Layer Details

Flow: Raw → Beliefs

System Composition

Component Roles

Model Binding (Inference Passthrough)

Strict-Mode Migration Matrix and Constraints

What Kernle Does vs What the SI Does

Storage Operations

Retrieval Operations

Promotion and Memory Processing

Manual Promotion via `kernle promote`

Automated Processing via `kernle process run` (v0.10.0)

Anxiety Model

Dimensions

Levels

Stack Architecture

Key Concepts

Multi-Stack Loading

Memory Provenance

The Three Questions

Key Fields

Lineage Tracking

Confidence Decay

Privacy Model

The Four Fields

Context-Aware Privacy

Summary