---
slug: "PerformanceSignal"
name: "PerformanceSignal"
type: "Data Structures"
layer: "Infrastructure"
ref: "PerformanceSignal#9dfb"
sema_id: "sema:PerformanceSignal#mh:SHA-256:9dfb41dd2ac3f271ca5d4a3ab67219a5a18aa8dbd970cdb410e7c9c1ec85488c"
tags: ["Infrastructure","Data Structures"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/index.json
url: https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PerformanceSignal/
related: ["Feedback","FrameError","PathwayMemory","ReceptivityGate","PolymorphicSolver","Solver"]
---

# PerformanceSignal

Typed artifact emitted by a Solver's Feedback surface — downstream evaluation that feeds Pathway Memory

Layer: Infrastructure · Category: Data Structures

## Mechanism

The typed artifact emitted by a Solver's Feedback surface — the downstream evaluation of how a completed transaction performed against its acceptance criteria, or the escalation signal that invokes a [FrameError](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/FrameError.md) when failure is structural rather than local. Distinct from the general [Feedback](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Feedback.md) primitive: PerformanceSignal is the contract-typed output that feeds [PathwayMemory](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PathwayMemory.md) (quality, depth, cost across problem classes) and drives localized learning at each node. The signal is produced by the consumer of a Result (parent Solver or end-caller) after the Acceptance Gate either admitted the Result as a Solution or rejected it back for reframing.

## Invariants

- Typed: the signal conforms to a declared schema so [PathwayMemory](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PathwayMemory.md) can aggregate across instances.
- Attributable: names the Solver node that produced the evaluated Result, so learning is localized.
- Three-outcome: either a scored evaluation, a pass/accept confirmation, or a [FrameError](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/FrameError.md) escalation.

## Failure modes

- Sycophantic drift: evaluator shares the generator's blind spots and rubber-stamps weak outputs.
- Signal poisoning in open commons: an untrusted consumer fabricates penalties to steal work (mitigated by [ReceptivityGate](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/ReceptivityGate.md)).
- Latency decay: the signal arrives long after the node has moved on, weakening the learning loop.
- Grade inflation: evaluators converge on 'good enough' scoring so all signals compress into a narrow band.

## Data schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "required": [
    "solver_ref",
    "outcome"
  ],
  "properties": {
    "solver_ref": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "sema_id of the Solver node being evaluated"
    },
    "outcome": {
      "type": "string",
      "enum": [
        "accepted",
        "scored",
        "frame_error"
      ],
      "description": "Shape of the signal"
    },
    "score": {
      "type": "number",
      "description": "Optional quality score when outcome=scored"
    },
    "frame_error_ref": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "sema_id of the FrameError when outcome=frame_error"
    },
    "evaluator_ref": {
      "type": "string",
      "description": "Identity of the evaluating entity, for trust-weighted aggregation"
    }
  }
}
```

## Builds on

- [Feedback](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/Feedback.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [FrameError](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/FrameError.md) (Mind; References)
- [PathwayMemory](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/PathwayMemory.md) (Mind; References)
- [ReceptivityGate](https://mindscape.pages.dev/bootstrap/ReceptivityGate.md) (Society; References)

## Used by

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

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:PerformanceSignal#mh:SHA-256:9dfb41dd2ac3f271ca5d4a3ab67219a5a18aa8dbd970cdb410e7c9c1ec85488c`
- Ref: `PerformanceSignal#9dfb`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:PerformanceSignal#mh:SHA-256:10af65000a53f88e121ac8edbc6b6d3a105a5a86a5b1b370cd227e2062a4dcd3`
  - `sema:PerformanceSignal#mh:SHA-256:7dea9b2784b3fa72856ba2b90eedc79ceb7c0b499b1c2a2bfdac205a5dbc27bf`
  - `sema:PerformanceSignal#mh:SHA-256:0f41b62437d210e1bf814dd145961f1ccd95661deaffa567989334ad298fdffb`
  - `sema:PerformanceSignal#mh:SHA-256:b1306e8135cc948042a67d39d29dfe2e7bdce610371c733e9c415a8b26a677f6`

## Links

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