@claudetools/tools 0.8.10 → 0.9.0

package/docs/research/2026-01-02-kappa-specification.md

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+# Kappa (κ) - Universal Computation Language
+
+**Version:** 0.1.0-alpha
+**Date:** 2026-01-02
+**Status:** First Principles Design
+
+## Foundation
+
+Kappa is derived from first principles of computation theory, not from domain patterns. It provides the **minimal set of primitives** needed to express **any computation** in a token-efficient format optimised for AI agents.
+
+### Theoretical Basis
+
+- **Lambda Calculus**: Function abstraction and application ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambda_calculus))
+- **Category Theory**: Morphisms and composition ([Number Analytics](https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/category-theory-logic-computation-intersection))
+- **Effect Systems**: Tracking computational effects ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effect_system))
+- **Curry-Howard**: Types as propositions, programs as proofs
+
+---
+
+## Six Primitives
+
+Kappa has exactly **6 core primitives**. Everything else is derived.
+
+| Primitive | Symbol | Meaning | Example |
+|-----------|--------|---------|---------|
+| **Binding** | `=` | Associate name with value | `x = 42` |
+| **Application** | `()` | Apply function to arguments | `f(x, y)` |
+| **Composition** | `>>` | Combine functions (output→input) | `parse >> validate >> save` |
+| **Abstraction** | `=>` | Create a function | `x => x * 2` |
+| **Type** | `:` | Annotate with type | `x: int` |
+| **Effect** | `-[E]->` | Annotate with effects | `f: A -[IO]-> B` |
+
+That's it. Six symbols. Universal computation.
+
+---
+
+## Why Only 6?
+
+**Lambda calculus** has 3 elements (variable, abstraction, application) and is Turing-complete.
+
+Kappa adds:
+- **Composition** (`>>`) for pipeline clarity (derivable but common)
+- **Types** (`:`) for semantic information
+- **Effects** (`-[E]->`) to distinguish pure from impure
+
+These 6 primitives can express:
+- REST APIs
+- GPU shaders
+- Game engines
+- ML models
+- Compilers
+- Physics simulations
+- Infrastructure
+- Literally anything computable
+
+---
+
+## The Universal Pattern
+
+All code follows one pattern:
+
+```
+name: InputTypes -[Effects]-> OutputType = transformation
+```
+
+This pattern works for EVERYTHING:
+
+```
+# Web API endpoint
+createUser: (email: str, pass: str) -[DB, Auth]-> User
+
+# GPU shader
+pbr: (albedo: vec3, normal: vec3, rough: f32) -> vec3
+
+# Game system
+physics: (entities: [Entity], dt: f32) -[State]-> [Entity]
+
+# ML layer
+attention: (q: Tensor, k: Tensor, v: Tensor) -> Tensor
+
+# Compiler pass
+typeCheck: (ast: AST) -[Error]-> TypedAST
+
+# Infrastructure
+deploy: (config: Config) -[AWS, IO]-> Resources
+```
+
+Same pattern. Different types and effects. Universal.
+
+---
+
+## Types
+
+Types describe the shape of data.
+
+### Primitives
+```
+int, f32, f64       # Numbers
+str, char           # Text
+bool                # Boolean
+void                # No value
+```
+
+### Compounds
+```
+[T]                 # Array of T
+{a: T, b: U}        # Record/struct
+T | U               # Union (either T or U)
+T?                  # Optional (T or nothing)
+(A, B) -> C         # Function type
+```
+
+### Parameterised
+```
+Result[T, E]        # Success T or Error E
+Tensor[B, S, D]     # Shaped tensor
+Entity[C1, C2]      # Entity with components
+```
+
+### Custom
+```
+User = { id: int, email: str, role: Role }
+Role = admin | user | guest
+Vec3 = { x: f32, y: f32, z: f32 }
+```
+
+---
+
+## Effects
+
+Effects track what a function can DO beyond returning a value.
+
+### Core Effects
+```
+Pure        # No effects (default, can omit)
+IO          # External I/O (network, file, database)
+State       # Mutable state
+Random      # Non-determinism
+Error[E]    # Can fail with error type E
+Async       # Can suspend/resume
+```
+
+### Domain Effects
+```
+GPU         # GPU compute/render
+Time        # Access to time/clock
+Input       # User input
+Audio       # Sound output
+Param       # Learned parameters (ML)
+```
+
+### Composition
+```
+# Effects compose with +
+f: A -[IO + Error[E]]-> B
+
+# Pure functions have no effect annotation (or explicit Pure)
+g: A -> B
+g: A -[Pure]-> B  # equivalent
+```
+
+### Why Effects Matter
+
+Effects make the INVISIBLE visible:
+- "Does this function call the network?" → Check for `IO`
+- "Can this fail?" → Check for `Error`
+- "Does this need GPU?" → Check for `GPU`
+
+AI agents use effects to understand what code DOES, not just what it computes.
+
+---
+
+## Composition
+
+The `>>` operator is the heart of Kappa.
+
+### Pipeline (Sequential)
+```
+# Left-to-right data flow
+input >> parse >> validate >> transform >> output
+
+# Equivalent to:
+output(transform(validate(parse(input))))
+```
+
+### Parallel
+```
+# Fork-join pattern
+input >> (branchA & branchB) >> merge
+
+# Explicit parallel composition
+parallel {
+  a = computeA(input)
+  b = computeB(input)
+  c = computeC(input)
+}
+>> combine(a, b, c)
+```
+
+### Conditional
+```
+input >> validate >>
+  | valid => process >> success
+  | invalid => error
+
+# Or with pattern matching
+result >> match {
+  Ok(v) => handleSuccess(v)
+  Err(e) => handleError(e)
+}
+```
+
+### Graph (Complex Flows)
+```
+graph AuthFlow {
+  # Named nodes
+  creds = input(email: str, password: str)
+  validated = validate(creds)
+  user = fetch(creds.email) when validated.ok
+  token = sign(user) when user.found
+
+  # Output
+  output(token) or error(validated.err | user.err)
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Functions
+
+Functions are first-class values.
+
+### Definition
+```
+# Full form
+add: (a: int, b: int) -> int = a + b
+
+# With effects
+fetchUser: (id: int) -[DB]-> User? = db.query("users", id)
+
+# Anonymous
+nums.map(x => x * 2)
+
+# Curried
+add: int -> int -> int = a => b => a + b
+```
+
+### Higher-Order
+```
+# Function that returns function
+multiplier: int -> (int -> int) = n => x => x * n
+double = multiplier(2)
+
+# Function that takes function
+map: ([T], T -> U) -> [U]
+filter: ([T], T -> bool) -> [T]
+reduce: ([T], (A, T) -> A, A) -> A
+```
+
+### Composition
+```
+# Point-free style
+processUser = fetch >> validate >> transform >> save
+
+# Is equivalent to:
+processUser = user => save(transform(validate(fetch(user))))
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example: Game Engine
+
+```
+# === Types ===
+
+Vec3 = { x: f32, y: f32, z: f32 }
+Quat = { w: f32, x: f32, y: f32, z: f32 }
+
+# Components (data)
+Transform = { position: Vec3, rotation: Quat, scale: Vec3 }
+Velocity = { linear: Vec3, angular: Vec3 }
+Collider = Box { size: Vec3 } | Sphere { radius: f32 }
+Sprite = { texture: TextureId, uv: Rect, color: Color }
+
+# Entity is parameterised by its components
+Entity[C...] = { id: EntityId, components: C... }
+
+# === Systems (functions over entities) ===
+
+movementSystem: ([Entity[Transform, Velocity]], f32) -[State]-> void =
+  (entities, dt) => entities.each(e => {
+    e.transform.position += e.velocity.linear * dt
+    e.transform.rotation *= quatFromAngular(e.velocity.angular * dt)
+  })
+
+physicsSystem: ([Entity[Transform, Collider, Velocity]], f32) -[State]-> void =
+  (entities, dt) => {
+    pairs = broadPhase(entities)
+    contacts = pairs.flatMap(narrowPhase)
+    impulses = solveConstraints(contacts, iterations: 10)
+    impulses.each(apply)
+    integrate(entities, dt)
+  }
+
+renderSystem: ([Entity[Transform, Sprite]], Camera) -[GPU]-> void =
+  (entities, camera) => {
+    sorted = entities.sortBy(_.transform.position.z)
+    sorted.each(e => drawSprite(e.sprite, e.transform, camera))
+  }
+
+# === Game Loop ===
+
+gameLoop: -[Time, Input, State, GPU]-> void = loop(fps: 60) {
+  dt = deltaTime()
+
+  # Systems run in order
+  inputSystem(dt)
+  >> movementSystem(dt)
+  >> physicsSystem(dt)
+  >> renderSystem(camera)
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example: PBR Shader
+
+```
+# Pure math - no effects
+# This compiles to GLSL/HLSL/Metal
+
+PI: f32 = 3.14159265359
+
+distributionGGX: (n: Vec3, h: Vec3, roughness: f32) -> f32 = {
+  a = roughness * roughness
+  a2 = a * a
+  nDotH = max(dot(n, h), 0.0)
+  nDotH2 = nDotH * nDotH
+
+  denom = nDotH2 * (a2 - 1.0) + 1.0
+  denom = PI * denom * denom
+
+  a2 / denom
+}
+
+geometrySchlickGGX: (nDotV: f32, roughness: f32) -> f32 = {
+  r = roughness + 1.0
+  k = (r * r) / 8.0
+  nDotV / (nDotV * (1.0 - k) + k)
+}
+
+geometrySmith: (n: Vec3, v: Vec3, l: Vec3, roughness: f32) -> f32 = {
+  nDotV = max(dot(n, v), 0.0)
+  nDotL = max(dot(n, l), 0.0)
+  ggx1 = geometrySchlickGGX(nDotV, roughness)
+  ggx2 = geometrySchlickGGX(nDotL, roughness)
+  ggx1 * ggx2
+}
+
+fresnelSchlick: (cosTheta: f32, f0: Vec3) -> Vec3 =
+  f0 + (1.0 - f0) * pow(1.0 - cosTheta, 5.0)
+
+# Main PBR function
+pbrShading: (
+  albedo: Vec3,
+  normal: Vec3,
+  metallic: f32,
+  roughness: f32,
+  viewDir: Vec3,
+  lightDir: Vec3,
+  lightColor: Vec3
+) -> Vec3 = {
+  h = normalize(viewDir + lightDir)
+  nDotL = max(dot(normal, lightDir), 0.0)
+  nDotV = max(dot(normal, viewDir), 0.0)
+
+  f0 = mix(vec3(0.04), albedo, metallic)
+
+  D = distributionGGX(normal, h, roughness)
+  G = geometrySmith(normal, viewDir, lightDir, roughness)
+  F = fresnelSchlick(max(dot(h, viewDir), 0.0), f0)
+
+  specular = (D * G * F) / max(4.0 * nDotV * nDotL, 0.001)
+  kD = (vec3(1.0) - F) * (1.0 - metallic)
+  diffuse = kD * albedo / PI
+
+  (diffuse + specular) * lightColor * nDotL
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example: Transformer Layer
+
+```
+# Types for tensors with shape information
+Tensor[...Dims] = opaque  # Actual implementation varies by framework
+
+# Attention mechanism - pure math
+scaledDotProductAttention: (
+  q: Tensor[B, H, S, D],
+  k: Tensor[B, H, S, D],
+  v: Tensor[B, H, S, D],
+  mask: Tensor[B, 1, S, S]?
+) -> Tensor[B, H, S, D] = {
+  scale = 1.0 / sqrt(D.toFloat)
+  scores = matmul(q, transpose(k, -2, -1)) * scale
+
+  masked = mask.map(m =>
+    scores.maskedFill(m == 0, -inf)
+  ) ?? scores
+
+  attn = softmax(masked, dim: -1)
+  matmul(attn, v)
+}
+
+# Multi-head attention with learned parameters
+multiHeadAttention: (
+  x: Tensor[B, S, D],
+  numHeads: int,
+  mask: Tensor[B, 1, S, S]?
+) -[Param]-> Tensor[B, S, D] = {
+  dHead = D / numHeads
+
+  # Learned projections (Param effect)
+  qProj = linear(D, D)
+  kProj = linear(D, D)
+  vProj = linear(D, D)
+  outProj = linear(D, D)
+
+  # Project and reshape for multi-head
+  q = qProj(x).reshape(B, S, numHeads, dHead).transpose(1, 2)
+  k = kProj(x).reshape(B, S, numHeads, dHead).transpose(1, 2)
+  v = vProj(x).reshape(B, S, numHeads, dHead).transpose(1, 2)
+
+  # Attention
+  attended = scaledDotProductAttention(q, k, v, mask)
+
+  # Reshape and project out
+  attended.transpose(1, 2).reshape(B, S, D) >> outProj
+}
+
+# Full transformer block
+transformerBlock: (
+  x: Tensor[B, S, D],
+  numHeads: int,
+  ffDim: int,
+  mask: Tensor[B, 1, S, S]?
+) -[Param]-> Tensor[B, S, D] = {
+  # Self-attention with residual
+  attnOut = x + multiHeadAttention(layerNorm(x), numHeads, mask)
+
+  # FFN with residual
+  ffn = linear(D, ffDim) >> gelu >> linear(ffDim, D)
+  attnOut + ffn(layerNorm(attnOut))
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Example: REST API
+
+```
+# Types
+User = { id: int, email: str, role: Role, createdAt: DateTime }
+Role = admin | user | guest
+CreateUserRequest = { email: str, password: str }
+AuthToken = { token: str, expiresAt: DateTime }
+
+# Effects used: DB, Auth, Error
+ApiError = NotFound | Unauthorized | ValidationError[str] | InternalError
+
+# Endpoints are functions with effects
+createUser: CreateUserRequest -[DB, Error[ApiError]]-> User = req => {
+  # Validate
+  req.email.isValidEmail || throw ValidationError("Invalid email")
+  req.password.length >= 8 || throw ValidationError("Password too short")
+
+  # Check uniqueness
+  db.findByEmail(req.email).isSome && throw ValidationError("Email exists")
+
+  # Create
+  user = {
+    id: db.nextId(),
+    email: req.email,
+    role: user,
+    createdAt: now()
+  }
+
+  passwordHash = bcrypt.hash(req.password, rounds: 12)
+  db.insert("users", user, { passwordHash })
+
+  user
+}
+
+authenticate: (email: str, password: str) -[DB, Error[ApiError]]-> AuthToken = {
+  user = db.findByEmail(email) ?? throw NotFound
+
+  stored = db.getPasswordHash(user.id)
+  bcrypt.verify(password, stored) || throw Unauthorized
+
+  token = jwt.sign({ userId: user.id, role: user.role }, expiresIn: "24h")
+  { token, expiresAt: now() + hours(24) }
+}
+
+# Route composition
+routes = router {
+  POST "/users" => createUser
+  POST "/auth/login" => authenticate
+  GET "/users/:id" => getUser
+  PUT "/users/:id" => updateUser >> requireAuth(admin | self)
+  DELETE "/users/:id" => deleteUser >> requireAuth(admin)
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## Transformations
+
+Transformations modify existing code. They are functions: `Code -> Code`.
+
+### Structural Transforms
+```
+# Add field to type
+User' = User + { emailVerified: bool = false }
+
+# Remove field
+User' = User - deprecatedField
+
+# Rename
+User' = User.rename(name -> fullName)
+
+# Change type
+User' = User.retype(age: int -> age: uint)
+```
+
+### Behavioral Transforms
+```
+# Wrap function
+authenticate' = authenticate
+  >> before { log("Auth attempt: ${email}") }
+  >> after { log("Auth result: ${result}") }
+
+# Add middleware
+createUser' = createUser
+  >> validate(CreateUserSchema)
+  >> rateLimit(10/minute)
+  >> audit("user_created")
+```
+
+### Composition Transforms
+```
+# Add to pipeline
+pipeline' = pipeline >> newStep
+
+# Replace step
+pipeline' = pipeline.replace(oldStep, newStep)
+
+# Remove step
+pipeline' = pipeline - deprecatedStep
+```
+
+---
+
+## Style (Visual Properties)
+
+For visual code, style is data that flows through the system.
+
+```
+# Style as a type
+Style = {
+  palette: Palette,
+  typography: Typography,
+  motion: MotionConfig,
+  spacing: SpacingScale
+}
+
+Palette = {
+  primary: Color,
+  secondary: Color,
+  accent: Color,
+  background: Color,
+  surface: Color,
+  text: Color,
+  error: Color
+}
+
+# Style flows as context
+render: (component: Component, style: Style) -[GPU]-> Pixels
+
+# Or as an effect
+styled: Style -> (Component -[Render]-> Pixels)
+
+# Usage
+Button = (label: str, onClick: () -> void) -[Render(style)]-> HTML = {
+  <button
+    style={bg: style.palette.primary, color: style.palette.text}
+    onClick={onClick}
+  >
+    {label}
+  </button>
+}
+```
+
+For games:
+```
+ArtStyle = {
+  shading: cel | pbr | unlit,
+  palette: [Color],
+  outlines: bool,
+  postFx: [PostEffect]
+}
+
+renderScene: (scene: Scene, art: ArtStyle) -[GPU]-> Frame
+```
+
+---
+
+## Token Efficiency
+
+Kappa is designed for minimal token usage.
+
+### Comparison
+
+| Task | Python | TypeScript | Kappa | Savings |
+|------|--------|------------|-------|---------|
+| Auth function | ~45 tokens | ~50 tokens | ~22 tokens | 51-56% |
+| Type definition | ~25 tokens | ~30 tokens | ~12 tokens | 52-60% |
+| API route | ~35 tokens | ~40 tokens | ~18 tokens | 49-55% |
+
+### Efficiency Techniques
+
+1. **No boilerplate**: No imports, class wrappers, decorators
+2. **Implicit returns**: Last expression is return value
+3. **Composition over nesting**: `a >> b >> c` vs `c(b(a(x)))`
+4. **Type inference**: Types often omitted when inferrable
+5. **Effect inference**: Pure by default, effects only when needed
+
+---
+
+## Formal Grammar (Draft)
+
+```
+program     = definition*
+definition  = binding | typedef
+
+binding     = name (':' type)? '=' expr
+typedef     = name '=' type
+
+type        = primitive | compound | parameterised | effectful
+primitive   = 'int' | 'f32' | 'f64' | 'str' | 'bool' | 'void'
+compound    = '[' type ']'                    # Array
+            | '{' (name ':' type ',')* '}'    # Record
+            | type ('|' type)+                # Union
+            | type '?'                        # Optional
+            | '(' type* ')' '->' type         # Function
+parameterised = name '[' type* ']'
+effectful   = type '-[' effect+ ']->' type
+effect      = 'IO' | 'State' | 'Error' '[' type ']' | ...
+
+expr        = literal | name | application | abstraction | composition | block
+literal     = number | string | boolean | array | record
+application = expr '(' (expr ',')* ')'
+abstraction = pattern '=>' expr
+composition = expr '>>' expr
+block       = '{' (statement ';')* expr '}'
+
+pattern     = name | '_' | '{' pattern* '}' | '[' pattern* ']'
+```
+
+---
+
+## Summary
+
+Kappa is universal because it's built on universal primitives:
+
+| Primitive | What it does | From |
+|-----------|--------------|------|
+| `=` | Binding | Lambda calculus |
+| `()` | Application | Lambda calculus |
+| `=>` | Abstraction | Lambda calculus |
+| `>>` | Composition | Category theory |
+| `:` | Types | Type theory |
+| `-[E]->` | Effects | Effect systems |
+
+No domain-specific syntax. No paradigm-specific keywords. Just **6 primitives** that compose to express **any computation**.
+
+The AI agent understands:
+- **Types** tell you what data flows
+- **Effects** tell you what can happen
+- **Composition** tells you how pieces connect
+
+This is simpler, more universal, and more token-efficient than any domain-specific DSL.
+
+---
+
+*Kappa: κ - Universal Computation, Minimal Primitives*