---
slug: "Build"
name: "Build"
type: "Strategy"
layer: "Mind"
ref: "Build#e2c4"
sema_id: "sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:e2c44670a03fffee712f69a847aae0b6959ba58f9c7a14513cd8759d3921d5e3"
tags: ["Mind","Strategy"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Build/
related: ["Spec","Act","MarginalValueRule","Plan","Prototype","Artifact","Simulation","DogfoodFirst","SacrificialProbe"]
---

# Build

Low-cost prototype generation

Layer: Mind · Category: Strategy

## Mechanism

Performs the [Act](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Act.md) of constructing a low-cost [Artifact](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Artifact.md) (prototype) to verify critical assumptions in the [Spec](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Spec.md) before full commitment. Recursion into further prototyping is stopped by [MarginalValueRule](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/MarginalValueRule.md).

## Invariants

- Costs at most `cost_fraction` of the full commitment it de-risks.
- The [Prototype](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Prototype.md) addresses risks named in the [Plan](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Plan.md).

## Preconditions

- PlanBundle with high uncertainty/risk

## Postconditions

- ProtoPack artifact (Evidence of feasibility)

## Failure modes

- Over-engineering: Building the full product instead of a prototype.
- False Negative: [Prototype](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Prototype.md) fails due to low fidelity, killing a good plan.
- Scope Creep: [Prototype](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Prototype.md) expands beyond verification needs.

## Parameters

- `cost_fraction` (Ratio, (0.0, 0.5]): Share of the full commitment's cost this prototype may consume.

## Signature

- `Act(Artifact)`

## Builds on

- [Spec](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Spec.md) (Infrastructure; Accepts)
- [Act](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Act.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [MarginalValueRule](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/MarginalValueRule.md) (Mind; References)
- [Plan](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Plan.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Prototype](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Prototype.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Artifact](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Artifact.md) (Infrastructure; Yields)

## Used by

—

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:e2c44670a03fffee712f69a847aae0b6959ba58f9c7a14513cd8759d3921d5e3`
- Ref: `Build#e2c4`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:00f3e2cc017af17d5de5a121ddd38017635736aa54c5ef23ee43c84abe5ddab6`
  - `sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:24b99d995cd2d544f447f9f71a3e33cc19667b89ba33591e32c70d2ab2e0f9b0`
  - `sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:779891ac7847940250f7a8a7cb1610f190862df7af2e5b2fd680b0d89dc42bf2`
  - `sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:8c12768e582bf408aedc62adf2f68ebc0caba12e53191af37a35fc61befc1704`
  - `sema:Build#mh:SHA-256:ddb234abcbbeab92a4b09829d2dbf22adc706c6183d529144c078170c73c65a4`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Build/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/#Build)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Build.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json)