Mind · Strategy
ConstraintFirst
Defining boundaries before content
Definition
Mechanism
The agent first generates the 'negative space' (the Constraints, safety rules, and format requirements), defining a rigid container. Only THEN does it generate the content to fill that container. It separates 'form' from 'function'. This prevents the generation of content that is creative but invalid.
Invariants
- The Constraint set is generated before any content.
- Constraints are fixed for the duration of a generation pass; revising them starts a new pass.
Risks
Failure modes
Over-constraining the solution space.
Retrofitting
constraints are loosened mid-pass to admit content already generated, which reverses the pattern.
Relationships
Builds on
References
Infrastructure
Non-negotiable boundary condition
Used by
References
Sandboxed coordination trial with rollback on commit refusal
Reference