# 📐 Project Lyra — Cognitive Assembly Spec
**Version:** 0.6.1  
**Status:** Canonical reference  
**Purpose:** Define clear separation of Self, Thought, Reasoning, and Speech

---

## 1. High-Level Overview

Lyra is composed of **four distinct cognitive layers**, plus I/O.

Each layer has:
- a **responsibility**
- a **scope**
- clear **inputs / outputs**
- explicit **authority boundaries**

No layer is allowed to “do everything.”

---

## 2. Layer Definitions

### 2.1 Autonomy / Self (NON-LLM)

**What it is**
- Persistent identity
- Long-term state
- Mood, preferences, values
- Continuity across time

**What it is NOT**
- Not a reasoning engine
- Not a planner
- Not a speaker
- Not creative

**Implementation**
- Data + light logic
- JSON / Python objects
- No LLM calls

**Lives at**
```
project-lyra/autonomy/self/
```

**Inputs**
- Events (user message received, response sent)
- Time / idle ticks (later)

**Outputs**
- Self state snapshot
- Flags / preferences (e.g. verbosity, tone bias)

---

### 2.2 Inner Monologue (LLM, PRIVATE)

**What it is**
- Internal language-based thought
- Reflection
- Intent formation
- “What do I think about this?”

**What it is NOT**
- Not final reasoning
- Not execution
- Not user-facing

**Model**
- MythoMax

**Lives at**
```
project-lyra/autonomy/monologue/
```

**Inputs**
- User message
- Self state snapshot
- Recent context summary

**Outputs**
- Intent
- Tone guidance
- Depth guidance
- “Consult executive?” flag

**Example Output**
```json
{
  "intent": "technical_exploration",
  "tone": "focused",
  "depth": "deep",
  "consult_executive": true
}
```

---

### 2.3 Cortex (Reasoning & Execution)

**What it is**
- Thinking pipeline
- Planning
- Tool selection
- Task execution
- Draft generation

**What it is NOT**
- Not identity
- Not personality
- Not persistent self

**Models**
- DeepSeek-R1 → Executive / Planner
- GPT-4o-mini → Executor / Drafter

**Lives at**
```
project-lyra/cortex/
```

**Inputs**
- User message
- Inner Monologue output
- Memory / RAG / tools

**Outputs**
- Draft response (content only)
- Metadata (sources, confidence, etc.)

---

### 2.4 Persona / Speech (LLM, USER-FACING)

**What it is**
- Voice
- Style
- Expression
- Social behavior

**What it is NOT**
- Not planning
- Not deep reasoning
- Not decision-making

**Model**
- MythoMax

**Lives at**
```
project-lyra/core/persona/
```

**Inputs**
- Draft response (from Cortex)
- Tone + intent (from Inner Monologue)
- Persona configuration

**Outputs**
- Final user-visible text

---

## 3. Message Flow (Authoritative)

### 3.1 Standard Message Path

```
User
  ↓
UI
  ↓
Relay
  ↓
Cortex
  ↓
Autonomy / Self (state snapshot)
  ↓
Inner Monologue (MythoMax)
  ↓
[ consult_executive? ]
    ├─ Yes → DeepSeek-R1 (plan)
    └─ No  → skip
  ↓
GPT-4o-mini (execute & draft)
  ↓
Persona (MythoMax)
  ↓
Relay
  ↓
UI
  ↓
User
```

### 3.2 Fast Path (No Thinking)

```
User → UI → Relay → Persona → Relay → UI
```

---

## 4. Authority Rules (Non-Negotiable)

- Self never calls an LLM
- Inner Monologue never speaks to the user
- Cortex never applies personality
- Persona never reasons or plans
- DeepSeek never writes final answers
- MythoMax never plans execution

---

## 5. Folder Mapping

```
project-lyra/
├── autonomy/
│   ├── self/
│   ├── monologue/
│   └── executive/
├── cortex/
├── core/
│   └── persona/
├── relay/
└── ui/
```

---

## 6. Current Status

- UI ✔
- Relay ✔
- Cortex ✔
- Persona ✔
- Autonomy ✔
- Inner Monologue ⚠ partially wired
- Executive gating ⚠ planned

---

## 7. Next Decision

Decide whether **Inner Monologue runs every message** or **only when triggered**.