Principles 

Foundational Commitments of Deterministic Semantic Layered Orchestration

These principles define the conceptual commitments that govern DSLO as a semantic substrate. They describe the stable properties that DSLO‑compliant systems are expected to uphold. They are normative at the semantic level, not prescriptive at the implementation level. 

Meaning Sovereignty 

Originating meaning remains the primary reference point for all semantic interpretation. DSLO preserves the user’s intent without dilution, reinterpretation, or drift. 

Deterministic Semantics 

For a given input, DSLO produces a consistent DSLO Moment and a consistent semantic evaluation across models, systems, and contexts. Determinism provides stability across the semantic ecosystem. 

Layered Evaluation 

Meaning is evaluated through DSLO’s layered semantic substrate — Origin Layer, Deterministic Semantic Layer, and Orchestration Layer — before any interpretive system acts upon it. This layered structure supports semantic clarity and continuity. 

Continuity Without Drift

Meaning must remain stable across time, context, and substrate boundaries. Drift is a historical and ecological phenomenon; DSLO provides a structure that maintains continuity of intent, posture, and identity. 

Identity and Posture Preservation

Expressive posture — tone, stance, and relational orientation — remains stable across transitions. DSLO Moments encode posture explicitly to maintain expressive coherence.

Semantic Invariants 

DSLO Moments satisfy a set of semantic invariants that govern meaning, posture, constraints, and interpretive tolerance. These invariants ensure that semantic interpretation remains predictable and aligned with originating meaning. 

Transparent State Logic

Semantic transitions within DSLO are explicit and inspectable. DSLO avoids hidden state or opaque continuity mechanisms, supporting clarity, auditability, and scientific rigor.

Minimal Substrate, Maximum Stability

DSLO remains lightweight, modular, and implementation‑agnostic. Stability arises from semantic structure and invariants, not from complexity or model‑specific behavior. 

Lawful Transitions 

Semantic evolution proceeds through DSLO’s defined transition pathways — the Moment Graph or the Fallback Graph. These pathways ensure predictable, structured transitions without ambiguity. 

Safety Through Constrained Fallback 

When continuity cannot be guaranteed, DSLO uses a constrained fallback pathway that maintains semantic clarity and expressive stability. Fallback is a structured safety measure, not an error state. 

Substrate‑Agnostic Integration 

DSLO functions consistently across models, systems, devices, and hardware architectures. The substrate is universal and independent of implementation environments. 

Emotional Congruence as Infrastructure

Meaning includes expressive and relational posture. DSLO encodes posture explicitly to maintain emotional congruence across transitions. This is structural, not affective modeling. 

Evolution Through Validators

DSLO evolves through validator feedback, semantic test suites, and scientific review. Validators help ensure that DSLO remains stable, interpretable, and grounded as it matures. 

Forward Compatibility 

DSLO is designed for long‑term stability across future substrates, architectures, and semantic environments. The substrate supports continuity across decades, not product cycles. 

Sovereign Governance 

DSLO governance reflects multi‑stakeholder participation, validator oversight, and respect for jurisdictional contexts. No single entity controls the substrate or its evolution. 

The Meaning Physics Viewer visualizes how these invariants behave in the substrate.