---
slug: "PatternSketch"
name: "PatternSketch"
type: "Protocols"
layer: "Society"
ref: "PatternSketch#c5da"
sema_id: "sema:PatternSketch#mh:SHA-256:c5dac0cdf7943f08c9107ed5382d5776a9a4fe3a3bd836fad74065a25274d9c5"
tags: ["Society","Protocols"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PatternSketch/
related: ["Agent","SkeletonOfThought"]
---

# PatternSketch

Progressive formalization of meaning

Layer: Society · Category: Protocols

## Mechanism

A usage pattern where an [Agent](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Agent.md) references a canonical concept with explicit uncertainty and modifications. Instead of claiming strict conformance, the [Agent](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Agent.md) says 'It is APPROXIMATELY Pattern X, with DELTA Y'. This allows reusable vocabulary to be used in 'messy' reality without breaking rigor. It provides a [SkeletonOfThought](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/SkeletonOfThought.md) version of a pattern, allowing usage before the full rigorous definition is complete.

## Invariants

- Confidence Awareness: If Confidence < 1.0, Tests are treated as advisory
- Explicit Delta: Must list exactly what differs from the canonical base

## Preconditions

- Canonical pattern exists

## Postconditions

- Meaning communicated with error bars

## Failure modes

- Drift.
- If Sketches never harden into Canonical patterns, the vocabulary degrades.

## Builds on

- [Agent](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Agent.md) (Mind; References)
- [SkeletonOfThought](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/SkeletonOfThought.md) (Mind; References)

## Used by

—

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:PatternSketch#mh:SHA-256:c5dac0cdf7943f08c9107ed5382d5776a9a4fe3a3bd836fad74065a25274d9c5`
- Ref: `PatternSketch#c5da`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:PatternSketch#mh:SHA-256:f8fd94a51759adfbabbf38b704d132e010071b3aceb6b3e2378be9a0823336d2`
  - `sema:PatternSketch#mh:SHA-256:645a57786fb81774821f2236af08b0ef9b28de93a044d2a3ea48915c43be9f21`
  - `sema:PatternSketch#mh:SHA-256:99d424d292ce9761fe55113ebe07e37a036916c73c3c95238f8116947acd033d`

## Links

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