thoughtflow 0.0.3__py3-none-any.whl → 0.0.4__py3-none-any.whl

thoughtflow-0.0.4.dist-info/METADATA

@@ -0,0 +1,1686 @@
+Metadata-Version: 2.4
+Name: thoughtflow
+Version: 0.0.4
+Summary: A minimal, explicit, Pythonic substrate for building reproducible, portable, testable LLM and agent systems.
+Project-URL: Homepage, https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow
+Project-URL: Documentation, https://thoughtflow.dev
+Project-URL: Repository, https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow
+Project-URL: Issues, https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/issues
+Project-URL: Changelog, https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md
+Author-email: "James A. Rolfsen" <james@think.dev>
+Maintainer-email: "James A. Rolfsen" <james@think.dev>
+License: MIT License
+        
+        Copyright (c) 2025 James A. Rolfsen
+        
+        Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+        of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+        in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+        to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+        copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+        furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+        
+        The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+        copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+        
+        THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+        IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+        FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+        AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+        LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+        OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+        SOFTWARE.
+License-File: LICENSE
+Keywords: agents,ai,anthropic,langchain-alternative,llm,machine-learning,openai,orchestration
+Classifier: Development Status :: 3 - Alpha
+Classifier: Intended Audience :: Developers
+Classifier: License :: OSI Approved :: MIT License
+Classifier: Operating System :: OS Independent
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11
+Classifier: Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12
+Classifier: Topic :: Scientific/Engineering :: Artificial Intelligence
+Classifier: Topic :: Software Development :: Libraries :: Python Modules
+Classifier: Typing :: Typed
+Requires-Python: >=3.9
+Provides-Extra: all
+Requires-Dist: anthropic>=0.18; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: mkdocs-material>=9.0; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: mkdocs>=1.5; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: mkdocstrings[python]>=0.24; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: mypy>=1.0; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: ollama>=0.1; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: openai>=1.0; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: pre-commit>=3.0; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: pytest-asyncio>=0.21; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: pytest-cov>=4.0; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: pytest>=7.0; extra == 'all'
+Requires-Dist: ruff>=0.1; extra == 'all'
+Provides-Extra: all-providers
+Requires-Dist: anthropic>=0.18; extra == 'all-providers'
+Requires-Dist: ollama>=0.1; extra == 'all-providers'
+Requires-Dist: openai>=1.0; extra == 'all-providers'
+Provides-Extra: anthropic
+Requires-Dist: anthropic>=0.18; extra == 'anthropic'
+Provides-Extra: dev
+Requires-Dist: mypy>=1.0; extra == 'dev'
+Requires-Dist: pre-commit>=3.0; extra == 'dev'
+Requires-Dist: pytest-asyncio>=0.21; extra == 'dev'
+Requires-Dist: pytest-cov>=4.0; extra == 'dev'
+Requires-Dist: pytest>=7.0; extra == 'dev'
+Requires-Dist: ruff>=0.1; extra == 'dev'
+Provides-Extra: docs
+Requires-Dist: mkdocs-material>=9.0; extra == 'docs'
+Requires-Dist: mkdocs>=1.5; extra == 'docs'
+Requires-Dist: mkdocstrings[python]>=0.24; extra == 'docs'
+Provides-Extra: local
+Requires-Dist: ollama>=0.1; extra == 'local'
+Provides-Extra: openai
+Requires-Dist: openai>=1.0; extra == 'openai'
+Description-Content-Type: text/markdown
+
+<!-- 
+  ████████╗██╗  ██╗ ██████╗ ██╗   ██╗ ██████╗ ██╗  ██╗████████╗███████╗██╗      ██████╗ ██╗    ██╗
+  ╚══██╔══╝██║  ██║██╔═══██╗██║   ██║██╔════╝ ██║  ██║╚══██╔══╝██╔════╝██║     ██╔═══██╗██║    ██║
+     ██║   ███████║██║   ██║██║   ██║██║  ███╗███████║   ██║   █████╗  ██║     ██║   ██║██║ █╗ ██║
+     ██║   ██╔══██║██║   ██║██║   ██║██║   ██║██╔══██║   ██║   ██╔══╝  ██║     ██║   ██║██║███╗██║
+     ██║   ██║  ██║╚██████╔╝╚██████╔╝╚██████╔╝██║  ██║   ██║   ██║     ███████╗╚██████╔╝╚███╔███╔╝
+     ╚═╝   ╚═╝  ╚═╝ ╚═════╝  ╚═════╝  ╚═════╝ ╚═╝  ╚═╝   ╚═╝   ╚═╝     ╚══════╝ ╚═════╝  ╚══╝╚══╝ 
+-->
+
+<p align="center">
+  <img src="assets/logo.png" alt="ThoughtFlow Logo" width="400">
+</p>
+
+<h1 align="center">ThoughtFlow</h1>
+
+<p align="center">
+  <strong>The Pythonic Cognitive Engine for LLM Systems That Actually Make Sense</strong>
+</p>
+
+<p align="center">
+  <em>"We believe your code should be smarter than your framework."</em>
+</p>
+
+<!-- Primary badges: trust signals -->
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="https://pypi.org/project/thoughtflow/"><img src="https://img.shields.io/pypi/v/thoughtflow?color=blue" alt="PyPI version"></a>
+  <a href="https://pypi.org/project/thoughtflow/"><img src="https://img.shields.io/pypi/pyversions/thoughtflow" alt="Python versions"></a>
+  <a href="https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-green.svg" alt="License: MIT"></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/actions/workflows/ci.yml"><img src="https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/actions/workflows/ci.yml/badge.svg" alt="CI"></a>
+  <a href="https://pepy.tech/project/thoughtflow"><img src="https://static.pepy.tech/badge/thoughtflow/month" alt="Downloads/month"></a>
+</p>
+
+<!-- Secondary badges: social + quality -->
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/stargazers"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/stars/jrolf/thoughtflow?style=flat" alt="GitHub stars"></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/commits/main"><img src="https://img.shields.io/github/last-commit/jrolf/thoughtflow" alt="Last commit"></a>
+  <a href="https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff"><img src="https://img.shields.io/endpoint?url=https://raw.githubusercontent.com/astral-sh/ruff/main/assets/badge/v2.json" alt="Ruff"></a>
+  <a href="http://mypy-lang.org/"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/type%20checked-mypy-blue" alt="mypy"></a>
+</p>
+
+<!-- Navigation -->
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="#-installation">Install</a> •
+  <a href="#-quick-start">Quick Start</a> •
+  <a href="#-the-four-primitives">Primitives</a> •
+  <a href="#-the-four-primitives-in-depth">Deep Dive</a> •
+  <a href="#-real-world-patterns">Patterns</a> •
+  <a href="#-utilities">Utilities</a> •
+  <a href="#-philosophy-the-zen-of-thoughtflow">Philosophy</a>
+</p>
+
+---
+
+## 🚀 Installation
+
+```bash
+# Core library (ZERO dependencies - stdlib only!)
+pip install thoughtflow
+
+# With OpenAI support
+pip install thoughtflow[openai]
+
+# With Anthropic support
+pip install thoughtflow[anthropic]
+
+# With local model support (Ollama)
+pip install thoughtflow[local]
+
+# With all providers
+pip install thoughtflow[all-providers]
+```
+
+**That's it.** The core library has **zero dependencies** — it uses only Python's standard library. Provider adapters are optional extras that bring in only what you need.
+
+---
+
+## ⚡ Quick Start
+
+Here's a complete working example. Copy, paste, run:
+
+```python
+import os
+from thoughtflow import LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT
+
+# 1. Create an LLM instance with your provider
+#    Format: "provider:model"
+api_key = os.environ.get("OPENAI_API_KEY", "your-api-key")
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key=api_key)
+
+# 2. Create a MEMORY to store conversation state
+#    MEMORY is an event-sourced container that tracks everything
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# 3. Add a user message to memory
+#    Messages can have channels for multi-platform agents
+memory.add_msg("user", "What is the meaning of life?", channel="cli")
+
+# 4. Create a THOUGHT - the atomic unit of cognition
+#    A THOUGHT combines: Prompt + Context + LLM + Parsing + Validation
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="respond",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="You are a wise philosopher. Answer: {last_user_msg}",
+)
+
+# 5. Execute the thought
+#    This is THE pattern: memory = thought(memory)
+print("Calling LLM...")
+memory = thought(memory)
+
+# 6. Get the result
+#    Results are stored in memory as variables
+result = memory.get_var("respond_result")
+print(f"Response: {result}")
+# Output: "Response: The meaning of life is a profound philosophical question that..."
+
+# 7. View the full conversation
+print(memory.render(output_format="conversation"))
+# Output:
+# User: What is the meaning of life?
+# Assistant: The meaning of life is a profound philosophical question that...
+```
+
+**The universal pattern is `memory = thought(memory)`.** That's not a simplification — that's the actual API. Everything flows through MEMORY.
+
+---
+
+## 🔥 The Manifesto
+
+> **We reject the complexity-industrial complex.**
+
+The modern LLM ecosystem has become an abstraction swamp. Frameworks compete to add more layers, more magic, more indirection—until you need a PhD just to debug a chatbot.
+
+**ThoughtFlow takes a different path.**
+
+We believe:
+- 🎯 **Your agent logic should fit in your head** — Four primitives, not forty classes
+- 🔍 **Every state change should be visible and traceable** — Event-sourced memory with full history
+- 🧪 **Testing AI systems should be as easy as testing regular code** — Deterministic replay built-in
+- 📦 **Zero dependencies means zero supply chain nightmares** — Core runs on stdlib only
+- ⚡ **Serverless deployment should be trivial, not heroic** — <100ms cold starts
+
+This isn't just a library. It's a stance.
+
+---
+
+## ✅ When to Use ThoughtFlow
+
+ThoughtFlow is the right choice when:
+
+- **You need serverless deployment** — Lambda, Cloud Functions, Edge. Zero dependencies means instant cold starts.
+- **You want to understand your entire codebase** in an afternoon — Four concepts, not forty.
+- **You value explicit state over magic** — Every change is visible, traceable, and replayable.
+- **You need deterministic testing** of AI workflows — Record sessions, replay them, assert on results.
+- **You're building production agents**, not prototypes — Serious error handling, retry logic, validation.
+- **You prefer composition over configuration** — Plain Python, not YAML or JSON configs.
+- **You work across multiple LLM providers** — One interface for OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, Gemini, Ollama, and more.
+
+## ❌ When NOT to Use ThoughtFlow
+
+Be honest with yourself — ThoughtFlow isn't for everyone:
+
+- **You need pre-built RAG pipelines out of the box** → Consider [LlamaIndex](https://github.com/run-llama/llama_index)
+- **You want visual workflow builders** → Consider [Flowise](https://github.com/FlowiseAI/Flowise), [Langflow](https://github.com/langflow-ai/langflow)
+- **You need complex multi-agent orchestration frameworks** → Consider [AutoGen](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen), [CrewAI](https://github.com/joaomdmoura/crewai)
+- **You prefer batteries-included over minimal** → Consider [LangChain](https://github.com/langchain-ai/langchain)
+- **You need built-in vector stores and retrievers** → ThoughtFlow doesn't include these (but see [ThoughtBase](#-sister-library-thoughtbase))
+
+**ThoughtFlow is opinionated:** we trade breadth for clarity. We do fewer things, but we do them well.
+
+---
+
+## 🚀 Escape Velocity: What You Can Delete
+
+Switching to ThoughtFlow? Here's what you can remove from your project:
+
+```diff
+- langchain                    # 50+ transitive dependencies
+- llama-index                  # Complex retrieval abstractions  
+- autogen                      # Multi-agent complexity
+- crewai                       # Yet another agent framework
+- semantic-kernel              # Enterprise overhead
+- haystack                     # Pipeline complexity
+- guidance                     # Constrained generation complexity
+
+- your custom retry logic      # THOUGHT handles retries with repair prompts
+- your custom parsing code     # valid_extract handles messy LLM output
+- your state management mess   # MEMORY tracks everything
+- your 47 adapter classes      # LLM provides one interface for all providers
+
++ thoughtflow                  # Zero dependencies. Everything you need.
+```
+
+**Net result:** Your `requirements.txt` gets lighter. Your code gets clearer. Your deployments get faster. Your team spends less time debugging framework internals.
+
+---
+
+## 📊 How ThoughtFlow Compares
+
+| Feature | ThoughtFlow | LangChain | LlamaIndex | AutoGen |
+|---------|-------------|-----------|------------|---------|
+| **Core Dependencies** | **0** | 50+ | 30+ | 20+ |
+| **Time to Understand** | **5 minutes** | 2+ hours | 1+ hour | 1+ hour |
+| **Concepts to Learn** | **4** | 50+ | 30+ | 15+ |
+| **Serverless Ready** | **Trivial** | Challenging | Challenging | Challenging |
+| **Cold Start (Lambda)** | **<100ms** | 2-5 seconds | 1-3 seconds | 1-2 seconds |
+| **Full State Visibility** | **Everything** | Partial | Partial | Partial |
+| **Deterministic Replay** | **Built-in** | DIY | DIY | DIY |
+| **Multi-Provider LLM** | **Built-in** | Via adapters | Via adapters | Via adapters |
+
+*Each framework has its strengths. LangChain offers breadth, LlamaIndex excels at RAG, AutoGen shines at multi-agent. ThoughtFlow optimizes for simplicity, transparency, and serverless deployment.*
+
+---
+
+## ⚡ Performance Characteristics
+
+| Metric | ThoughtFlow | Why It Matters |
+|--------|-------------|----------------|
+| **Import Time** | ~15ms | Zero dependencies = instant module load |
+| **Memory Overhead** | ~2MB | Minimal runtime footprint |
+| **Call Overhead** | <1ms | Direct HTTP calls, no middleware stack |
+| **Cold Start (Lambda)** | <100ms | Critical for serverless economics |
+| **Event Throughput** | 100k+ events/sec | Event-sourced architecture scales |
+
+*These are architectural characteristics, not formal benchmarks. Your mileage may vary based on workload.*
+
+---
+
+## 🧩 The Four Primitives
+
+ThoughtFlow gives you **four concepts**. Master these, and you've mastered the framework.
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│                                                                         │
+│   ┌─────────┐      ┌─────────┐      ┌─────────┐      ┌─────────┐      │
+│   │   LLM   │ ──▶  │ THOUGHT │ ──▶  │ MEMORY  │ ◀──  │ ACTION  │      │
+│   └─────────┘      └─────────┘      └─────────┘      └─────────┘      │
+│        │                │                │                │            │
+│   Any model        Cognition         State            External         │
+│   Any provider     unit              container        operations       │
+│                                                                         │
+└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+| Primitive | What It Does | The Pattern |
+|-----------|--------------|-------------|
+| **LLM** | Unified interface to call any language model | `response = llm.call(messages)` |
+| **MEMORY** | Event-sourced state container for everything | `memory.add_msg("user", "Hello!")` |
+| **THOUGHT** | Atomic unit of cognition with retry/parsing | `memory = thought(memory)` |
+| **ACTION** | External operations with consistent logging | `memory = action(memory, **kwargs)` |
+
+That's it. Four concepts. No 47-page tutorial to understand the basics.
+
+---
+
+## 🔌 Supported Providers
+
+ThoughtFlow works with **any LLM provider** through a unified interface:
+
+| Provider | Model ID Format | Example | Notes |
+|----------|-----------------|---------|-------|
+| **OpenAI** | `openai:model` | `openai:gpt-4o` | GPT-4, GPT-4o, GPT-3.5, etc. |
+| **Anthropic** | `anthropic:model` | `anthropic:claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022` | Claude 3, Claude 3.5, etc. |
+| **Groq** | `groq:model` | `groq:llama-3.1-70b-versatile` | Fast inference for open models |
+| **Google Gemini** | `gemini:model` | `gemini:gemini-1.5-pro` | Gemini Pro, Flash, etc. |
+| **OpenRouter** | `openrouter:model` | `openrouter:anthropic/claude-3-opus` | Access any model via OpenRouter |
+| **Ollama** | `ollama:model` | `ollama:llama3.2` | Local models, no API key needed |
+
+**Switching providers is a one-line change:**
+
+```python
+# From OpenAI...
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key=openai_key)
+
+# ...to Anthropic
+llm = LLM("anthropic:claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022", key=anthropic_key)
+
+# ...to local (no key needed!)
+llm = LLM("ollama:llama3.2")
+
+# Your THOUGHT and MEMORY code stays exactly the same
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🔮 The Four Primitives In Depth
+
+### 1. `LLM` — The Universal Model Interface
+
+The `LLM` class provides a unified interface for calling any language model. One interface, any provider, zero provider-specific code in your application.
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import LLM
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# CREATING LLM INSTANCES
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# OpenAI
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key="sk-...")
+
+# Anthropic
+llm = LLM("anthropic:claude-3-5-sonnet-20241022", key="sk-ant-...")
+
+# Groq (blazing fast inference)
+llm = LLM("groq:llama-3.1-70b-versatile", key="gsk_...")
+
+# Google Gemini
+llm = LLM("gemini:gemini-1.5-pro", key="...")
+
+# OpenRouter (access to any model)
+llm = LLM("openrouter:anthropic/claude-3-opus", key="sk-or-...")
+
+# Ollama (local models - no API key needed!)
+llm = LLM("ollama:llama3.2")
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# MAKING CALLS
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Standard chat format - works with ALL providers
+response = llm.call([
+    {"role": "system", "content": "You are a helpful assistant."},
+    {"role": "user", "content": "What's the capital of France?"}
+])
+# response: ["The capital of France is Paris."]
+
+# With parameters
+response = llm.call(
+    [{"role": "user", "content": "Write a haiku about Python"}],
+    params={"temperature": 0.7, "max_tokens": 100}
+)
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# MESSAGE NORMALIZATION
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# LLM automatically normalizes messages - all of these work:
+
+# Standard format
+llm.call([{"role": "user", "content": "Hello"}])
+
+# Just content (assumes role="user")
+llm.call([{"content": "Hello"}])
+
+# Plain strings (becomes user messages)
+llm.call(["Hello", "How are you?"])
+```
+
+**Key features:**
+- **Automatic message normalization** — Pass dicts, strings, or mixed formats
+- **Consistent response format** — Always returns a list of response strings
+- **Zero provider-specific code** — Switch providers by changing one string
+- **Direct HTTP calls** — No middleware, no overhead, no surprises
+
+---
+
+### 2. `MEMORY` — Event-Sourced State
+
+MEMORY is an event-sourced container that tracks **everything**: messages, logs, reflections, and variables with full history. Every change is an event with a sortable ID (alphabetical = chronological).
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import MEMORY
+
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# MESSAGES — with channel tracking for omni-channel agents
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Add messages with channel tracking (webapp, ios, telegram, slack, etc.)
+memory.add_msg("user", "Hello from the web!", channel="webapp")
+memory.add_msg("assistant", "Hi there! How can I help?", channel="webapp")
+memory.add_msg("user", "Following up on Telegram", channel="telegram")
+memory.add_msg("user", "Also checking on mobile", channel="ios")
+
+# Query messages - multiple ways
+all_msgs = memory.get_msgs()                              # All messages
+user_msgs = memory.get_msgs(include=["user"])             # Only user messages
+web_msgs = memory.get_msgs(channel="webapp")              # Only webapp channel
+recent = memory.get_msgs(limit=5)                         # Last 5 messages
+
+# Quick access to most recent
+memory.last_user_msg()    # "Also checking on mobile"
+memory.last_asst_msg()    # "Hi there! How can I help?"
+memory.last_sys_msg()     # Last system message (if any)
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# LOGS & REFLECTIONS — internal agent reasoning
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Logs are for debugging and audit trails
+memory.add_log("User initiated conversation from webapp")
+memory.add_log("Processing user request...")
+memory.add_log("Response generated successfully")
+
+# Reflections are for agent's internal reasoning
+memory.add_ref("User seems interested in weather patterns")
+memory.add_ref("Should ask clarifying questions about location")
+
+# Retrieve logs and reflections
+memory.get_logs()         # All log entries
+memory.get_refs()         # All reflections
+memory.last_log_msg()     # Most recent log
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# VARIABLES — with FULL HISTORY tracking
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Set variables with optional descriptions
+memory.set_var("session_id", "abc123", desc="Current session identifier")
+memory.set_var("user_name", "Alice", desc="User's display name")
+memory.set_var("request_count", 0)
+
+# Update variables - this APPENDS to history, doesn't overwrite!
+memory.set_var("request_count", 1)
+memory.set_var("request_count", 2)
+memory.set_var("request_count", 3)
+
+# Get current value
+memory.get_var("request_count")       # Returns: 3
+memory.get_var("user_name")           # Returns: "Alice"
+memory.get_var("nonexistent")         # Returns: None
+
+# Get FULL HISTORY - see every change with timestamps
+memory.get_var_history("request_count")
+# Returns: [
+#   ["stamp1...", 0],
+#   ["stamp2...", 1],
+#   ["stamp3...", 2],
+#   ["stamp4...", 3]
+# ]
+
+# Get all current variables
+memory.get_all_vars()
+# Returns: {"session_id": "abc123", "user_name": "Alice", "request_count": 3}
+
+# Get variable description
+memory.get_var_desc("session_id")     # "Current session identifier"
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# VARIABLE DELETION — tombstone pattern preserves history
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Deletion is a tombstone, not destruction
+memory.del_var("session_id")
+
+# After deletion
+memory.get_var("session_id")          # Returns: None
+memory.is_var_deleted("session_id")   # Returns: True
+
+# But history is preserved!
+memory.get_var_history("session_id")
+# Returns: [["stamp1...", "abc123"], ["stamp2...", <DELETED>]]
+
+# Can re-set after deletion
+memory.set_var("session_id", "xyz789")
+memory.get_var("session_id")          # Returns: "xyz789"
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# SERIALIZATION — for persistence and cloud sync
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Save to file (pickle format)
+memory.save("state.pkl")
+memory.save("state.pkl.gz", compressed=True)  # With compression
+
+# Load from file
+memory2 = MEMORY()
+memory2.load("state.pkl")
+
+# Export to JSON (portable, human-readable)
+memory.to_json("state.json")
+json_string = memory.to_json()  # Returns string if no filename
+
+# Load from JSON
+memory3 = MEMORY.from_json("state.json")
+memory4 = MEMORY.from_json(json_string)
+
+# Export snapshot for cloud sync
+snapshot = memory.snapshot()
+# snapshot = {"id": "...", "events": {...}, "objects": {...}}
+
+# Rehydrate from events (for distributed systems)
+memory5 = MEMORY.from_events(snapshot["events"].values())
+
+# Deep copy
+memory_copy = memory.copy()
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# RENDERING — for debugging, logging, and LLM context
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Render as conversation (great for debugging)
+print(memory.render(output_format="conversation"))
+# Output:
+# User: Hello from the web!
+# Assistant: Hi there! How can I help?
+# User: Following up on Telegram
+# ...
+
+# Render as JSON
+print(memory.render(output_format="json", include=("msgs", "logs")))
+
+# Render as plain text
+print(memory.render(output_format="plain"))
+
+# Filter by role, channel, content
+print(memory.render(
+    role_filter=["user", "assistant"],
+    channel_filter="webapp",
+    max_total_length=2000
+))
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# LARGE OBJECT HANDLING — automatic compression
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Large values (>10KB by default) are automatically compressed
+large_data = "x" * 50000  # 50KB of data
+memory.set_var("big_data", large_data)
+
+# Retrieved transparently
+memory.get_var("big_data")  # Returns full 50KB string
+
+# Or store objects explicitly
+stamp = memory.set_obj(large_binary_data, name="attachment", desc="PDF file")
+memory.get_var("attachment")  # Returns decompressed data
+```
+
+**Key features:**
+- **Event-sourced** — Every change is an event with a sortable ID
+- **Full variable history** — See every change with timestamps
+- **Channel tracking** — Build omni-channel agents (web, mobile, Telegram, etc.)
+- **Tombstone deletion** — History is never lost
+- **Auto-compression** — Large values handled automatically
+- **Multiple export formats** — JSON, Pickle, snapshots for cloud sync
+
+---
+
+### 3. `THOUGHT` — The Atomic Unit of Cognition
+
+A THOUGHT is the discrete unit of reasoning: **Prompt + Context + LLM + Parsing + Validation**. It's the building block for all cognitive operations.
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT
+
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key="...")
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# BASIC THOUGHT — the simplest form
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="respond",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="You are a helpful assistant. Answer: {last_user_msg}",
+)
+
+memory.add_msg("user", "What's 2 + 2?")
+memory = thought(memory)  # THE UNIVERSAL PATTERN
+
+result = memory.get_var("respond_result")
+print(result)  # "2 + 2 equals 4."
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# WITH PARSING — extract structured data from messy LLM output
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="extract_user_info",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Extract user information from this text: {text}",
+    parsing_rules={
+        "kind": "python",
+        "format": {
+            "name": "",           # Required string
+            "age": 0,             # Required int
+            "email?": "",         # Optional (note the ?)
+            "skills": [],         # Required list
+        }
+    },
+)
+
+memory.set_var("text", "My name is Alice, I'm 28, and I know Python and ML.")
+memory = thought(memory)
+info = memory.get_var("extract_user_info_result")
+# info = {"name": "Alice", "age": 28, "skills": ["Python", "ML"]}
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# WITH VALIDATION — ensure output meets requirements
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="generate_ideas",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Generate exactly 5 creative ideas for: {topic}",
+    parser="json",
+    validator="list_min_len:5",  # Must have at least 5 items
+    max_retries=3,               # Retry up to 3 times if validation fails
+    retry_delay=0.5,             # Wait 0.5s between retries
+)
+
+# Built-in validators:
+# - "any"                    — Accept anything
+# - "has_keys:key1,key2"     — Dict must have these keys
+# - "list_min_len:N"         — List must have at least N items
+# - Custom callable          — Your own validation function
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# WITH CUSTOM VALIDATION
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def validate_email_list(result):
+    """Custom validator: all items must be valid emails."""
+    if not isinstance(result, list):
+        return False, "Expected a list"
+    for item in result:
+        if "@" not in str(item):
+            return False, f"Invalid email: {item}"
+    return True, ""
+
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="extract_emails",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Extract all email addresses from: {text}",
+    parser="list",
+    validation=validate_email_list,
+    max_retries=2,
+)
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# OPERATIONS — THOUGHT isn't just for LLM calls
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# MEMORY QUERY — retrieve data without calling LLM
+query_thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="get_user_context",
+    operation="memory_query",
+    required_vars=["user_name", "session_id"],
+    optional_vars=["preferences"],
+)
+memory = query_thought(memory)
+context = memory.get_var("get_user_context_result")
+# context = {"user_name": "Alice", "session_id": "abc123"}
+
+# VARIABLE SET — set multiple variables at once
+init_thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="init_session",
+    operation="variable_set",
+    prompt={
+        "session_active": True,
+        "start_time": None,
+        "message_count": 0
+    }
+)
+memory = init_thought(memory)
+# Sets all three variables in memory
+
+# CONDITIONAL — branch logic based on memory state
+branch_thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="check_threshold",
+    operation="conditional",
+    condition=lambda m, ctx: ctx.get("score", 0) > 80,
+    if_true="high_score_path",
+    if_false="low_score_path"
+)
+memory.set_var("score", 95)
+memory = branch_thought(memory)
+result = memory.get_var("check_threshold_result")  # "high_score_path"
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# PRE/POST HOOKS — custom processing
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def pre_process(thought, memory, vars, **kwargs):
+    """Called before execution."""
+    print(f"About to execute: {thought.name}")
+    # Can modify vars before execution
+
+def post_process(thought, memory, result, error):
+    """Called after execution."""
+    if error:
+        print(f"Error in {thought.name}: {error}")
+    else:
+        print(f"Success: {thought.name} -> {result}")
+
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="monitored_thought",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="...",
+    pre_hook=pre_process,
+    post_hook=post_process,
+)
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# SERIALIZATION — save and restore thoughts
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Export to dict (for storage/transmission)
+thought_data = thought.to_dict()
+
+# Reconstruct from dict (LLM must be provided separately)
+thought_copy = THOUGHT.from_dict(thought_data, llm=llm)
+
+# Copy a thought
+thought_clone = thought.copy()
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# INTROSPECTION — examine execution history
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# After executing a thought multiple times
+thought.execution_history
+# [
+#   {"stamp": "...", "duration_ms": 234.5, "success": True, ...},
+#   {"stamp": "...", "duration_ms": 198.2, "success": True, ...},
+# ]
+
+thought.last_result      # Most recent result
+thought.last_error       # Most recent error (if any)
+thought.last_prompt      # The prompt that was sent
+thought.last_response    # Raw LLM response
+```
+
+**Key features:**
+- **Callable interface** — `memory = thought(memory)` is the entire API
+- **Automatic retry** — With repair prompts that explain what went wrong
+- **Schema-based parsing** — Via `valid_extract` for bulletproof extraction
+- **Multiple validators** — Built-in or custom validation functions
+- **Four operations** — `llm_call`, `memory_query`, `variable_set`, `conditional`
+- **Pre/post hooks** — Custom processing before and after execution
+- **Full serialization** — Save, restore, and copy thoughts
+
+---
+
+### 4. `ACTION` — External Operations
+
+ACTION wraps external operations (API calls, file I/O, database queries) with consistent logging and error handling:
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import ACTION, MEMORY
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# DEFINING AN ACTION
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def search_web(memory, query, max_results=3):
+    """
+    Search the web and return results.
+    
+    Args:
+        memory: MEMORY object (always first argument)
+        query: Search query string
+        max_results: Maximum results to return
+    
+    Returns:
+        dict with search results
+    """
+    # Your implementation here
+    results = web_api.search(query, limit=max_results)
+    return {"status": "success", "hits": results, "query": query}
+
+search_action = ACTION(
+    name="web_search",
+    fn=search_web,
+    config={"max_results": 5},  # Default config
+    description="Searches the web for information"
+)
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# EXECUTING AN ACTION
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# Execute with default config
+memory = search_action(memory, query="thoughtflow python library")
+
+# Execute with override
+memory = search_action(memory, query="python agents", max_results=10)
+
+# Results are stored automatically
+result = memory.get_var("web_search_result")
+# result = {"status": "success", "hits": [...], "query": "..."}
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# ERROR HANDLING — errors don't interrupt your workflow
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+def risky_operation(memory, url):
+    """An operation that might fail."""
+    response = requests.get(url, timeout=5)
+    response.raise_for_status()
+    return response.json()
+
+fetch_action = ACTION(name="fetch_data", fn=risky_operation)
+
+# If the action fails, error info is stored (not raised)
+memory = fetch_action(memory, url="https://example.com/api")
+
+result = memory.get_var("fetch_data_result")
+if "error" in result:
+    print(f"Action failed: {result['error']}")
+else:
+    print(f"Action succeeded: {result}")
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# INTROSPECTION — examine execution history
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# After executing an action multiple times
+search_action.execution_count        # How many times called
+search_action.was_successful()       # Did last call succeed?
+search_action.last_result            # Most recent result
+search_action.last_error             # Most recent error (if any)
+
+# Full execution history with timing
+search_action.execution_history
+# [
+#   {"stamp": "...", "duration_ms": 145.2, "success": True, "error": None},
+#   {"stamp": "...", "duration_ms": 203.1, "success": False, "error": "Timeout"},
+# ]
+
+# Get timing for last call
+last_call = search_action.execution_history[-1]
+print(f"Last call took {last_call['duration_ms']:.1f}ms")
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# RESET AND COPY
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Reset stats (useful for testing)
+search_action.reset_stats()
+
+# Copy an action (shares function, copies config)
+search_action_copy = search_action.copy()
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# SERIALIZATION
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Export to dict
+action_data = search_action.to_dict()
+
+# Reconstruct (need function registry)
+fn_registry = {"search_web": search_web}
+action_copy = ACTION.from_dict(action_data, fn_registry)
+```
+
+**Key features:**
+- **Callable interface** — `memory = action(memory, **kwargs)`
+- **Automatic result storage** — Results stored in `{name}_result` variable
+- **Error containment** — Errors are logged, not raised (workflow continues)
+- **Full execution history** — Timing, success/failure, error details
+- **Configurable defaults** — Set defaults, override per-call
+- **Serialization support** — Save and restore actions
+
+---
+
+## 🔧 Utilities
+
+### `valid_extract` — Robust LLM Output Parsing
+
+LLMs are messy. They add prose, code fences, markdown, and formatting you didn't ask for. `valid_extract` handles all of it:
+
+**Basic extraction from messy output:**
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import valid_extract, ValidExtractError
+
+# Messy LLM output with prose and formatting
+llm_output = '''
+Sure! Here is the data you asked for:
+{"name": "Alice", "age": 28, "skills": ["Python", "ML"]}
+Let me know if you need anything else!
+'''
+
+# Define extraction rules with schema
+rules = {
+    "kind": "python",
+    "format": {
+        "name": "",      # Required string
+        "age": 0,        # Required int
+        "skills": [],    # Required list
+    }
+}
+
+result = valid_extract(llm_output, rules)
+# result = {'name': 'Alice', 'age': 28, 'skills': ['Python', 'ML']}
+```
+
+**Optional keys (marked with `?`):**
+
+```python
+rules = {
+    "kind": "python",
+    "format": {
+        "name": "",       # Required
+        "email": "",      # Required
+        "phone?": "",     # Optional (note the ?)
+        "address?": "",   # Optional
+    }
+}
+
+llm_output = "{'name': 'Bob', 'email': 'bob@example.com'}"
+result = valid_extract(llm_output, rules)
+# result = {'name': 'Bob', 'email': 'bob@example.com'}
+# No error even though phone and address are missing
+```
+
+**Nested structures:**
+
+```python
+rules = {
+    "kind": "python",
+    "format": {
+        "user": {
+            "id": 0,
+            "profile": {
+                "name": "",
+                "settings": {}
+            }
+        },
+        "metadata": {}
+    }
+}
+```
+
+**List element validation:**
+
+```python
+# [schema] means every element must match schema
+rules = {
+    "kind": "python",
+    "format": [{
+        "id": 0,
+        "name": "",
+        "done": True
+    }]
+}
+
+llm_output = """
+[
+    {'id': 1, 'name': 'Task A', 'done': False},
+    {'id': 2, 'name': 'Task B', 'done': True},
+]
+"""
+result = valid_extract(llm_output, rules)
+# Each item validated against the schema
+```
+
+**JSON parsing:**
+
+```python
+rules = {
+    "kind": "json",  # Parse as JSON instead of Python
+    "format": {"status": "", "data": []}
+}
+
+llm_output = '{"status": "ok", "data": [1, 2, 3]}'
+result = valid_extract(llm_output, rules)
+```
+
+**Error handling:**
+
+```python
+try:
+    result = valid_extract("no valid data here", rules)
+except ValidExtractError as e:
+    print(f"Extraction failed: {e}")
+```
+
+**Schema type mapping:**
+- `""` or `str` → string
+- `0` or `int` → integer
+- `0.0` or `float` → float
+- `True` or `bool` → boolean
+- `None` → NoneType
+- `[]` → list (any contents)
+- `[schema]` → list of items matching schema
+- `{}` → dict (any contents)
+- `{"k": schema}` → dict with required key "k"
+- `{"k?": schema}` → dict with optional key "k"
+
+---
+
+### `EventStamp` — Deterministic IDs
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import event_stamp, hashify, EventStamp
+
+# Generate unique, sortable event ID
+# Alphabetical order = chronological order
+stamp = event_stamp()  # "A1B2C3D4E5F6G7H8"
+
+# Generate with document hash (deterministic component)
+stamp = event_stamp({"user": "alice", "action": "login"})
+
+# Decode timestamp from stamp
+unix_time = EventStamp.decode_time(stamp)
+
+# Generate deterministic hash
+hash_id = hashify("some input string")       # 32 chars by default
+hash_id = hashify("some input", length=16)   # Custom length
+# Same input always produces same hash
+```
+
+---
+
+### Prompt Construction
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import construct_prompt, construct_msgs
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# STRUCTURED PROMPTS WITH SECTIONS
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+prompt = construct_prompt({
+    "context": "You are analyzing customer feedback data.",
+    "instructions": "Follow these steps:\n1. Identify sentiment\n2. Extract key themes",
+    "output_format": "Return a JSON object with 'sentiment' and 'themes' keys."
+})
+# Generates a structured prompt with clear section markers
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# MESSAGE LIST CONSTRUCTION
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+msgs = construct_msgs(
+    usr_prompt="Analyze this feedback: {feedback}",
+    vars={"feedback": customer_feedback},
+    sys_prompt="You are a sentiment analysis expert.",
+    msgs=[]  # Prior conversation messages
+)
+# Returns properly formatted message list for LLM
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🎨 Real-World Patterns
+
+### Multi-Step Workflow
+
+Chain multiple thoughts together for complex workflows:
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT
+
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key="...")
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# Define a pipeline of thoughts
+analyze = THOUGHT(
+    name="analyze",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Analyze the following text and identify key themes: {text}",
+    parsing_rules={"kind": "python", "format": {"themes": [], "sentiment": ""}}
+)
+
+expand = THOUGHT(
+    name="expand",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Take these themes and expand on each one: {analyze_result}",
+)
+
+summarize = THOUGHT(
+    name="summarize",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Create an executive summary from this expanded analysis: {expand_result}",
+)
+
+critique = THOUGHT(
+    name="critique",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Identify potential weaknesses or gaps in this analysis: {summarize_result}",
+)
+
+# Execute the pipeline — it's just Python!
+memory.set_var("text", document)
+
+for thought in [analyze, expand, summarize, critique]:
+    print(f"Executing: {thought.name}")
+    memory = thought(memory)
+    print(f"  Result stored in: {thought.name}_result")
+
+# Get final results
+summary = memory.get_var("summarize_result")
+critique = memory.get_var("critique_result")
+```
+
+### Multi-Channel Agent
+
+Build agents that work across platforms:
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT
+
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# Messages come from different platforms
+memory.add_msg("user", "Hello from the website!", channel="webapp")
+memory.add_msg("user", "Following up via Telegram", channel="telegram")
+memory.add_msg("user", "Quick question from mobile", channel="ios")
+memory.add_msg("user", "Also checking Slack", channel="slack")
+
+# Process messages by channel
+for channel in ["webapp", "telegram", "ios", "slack"]:
+    msgs = memory.get_msgs(channel=channel)
+    print(f"\n{channel.upper()} ({len(msgs)} messages):")
+    for msg in msgs:
+        print(f"  {msg['role']}: {msg['content'][:50]}...")
+
+# Or process all together, maintaining context
+all_msgs = memory.get_msgs(include=["user", "assistant"])
+
+# Render for LLM context with channel info
+context = memory.render(
+    output_format="conversation",
+    include_roles=("user", "assistant"),
+    max_total_length=4000
+)
+```
+
+### Retry with Auto-Repair
+
+Automatic retry with intelligent repair prompts:
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT
+
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key="...")
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+thought = THOUGHT(
+    name="generate_json",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="""Generate a valid JSON object with exactly these keys:
+    - "name": a string
+    - "count": an integer greater than 0
+    - "tags": a list of at least 3 strings
+    """,
+    parsing_rules={
+        "kind": "json",
+        "format": {"name": "", "count": 0, "tags": [""]}
+    },
+    validator="list_min_len:3",  # Custom: tags must have 3+ items
+    max_retries=3,
+    retry_delay=0.5,
+)
+
+# If validation fails, THOUGHT automatically retries with a repair prompt
+# that explains what went wrong:
+# "(Please return only the requested format; your last answer failed: List too short)"
+
+memory = thought(memory)
+
+# Check execution history
+for attempt in thought.execution_history:
+    print(f"Attempt: success={attempt['success']}, duration={attempt['duration_ms']:.1f}ms")
+```
+
+### Combining THOUGHTs and ACTIONs
+
+Build agents that think AND act:
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT, ACTION
+
+llm = LLM("openai:gpt-4o", key="...")
+memory = MEMORY()
+
+# Define an action for external API calls
+def search_database(memory, query, limit=10):
+    results = db.search(query, limit=limit)
+    return {"results": results, "count": len(results)}
+
+search = ACTION(name="search", fn=search_database)
+
+# Define thoughts for reasoning
+analyze_query = THOUGHT(
+    name="analyze_query",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Convert this user question into a database search query: {last_user_msg}",
+)
+
+synthesize = THOUGHT(
+    name="synthesize",
+    llm=llm,
+    prompt="Given these search results: {search_result}\n\nAnswer the user's question: {last_user_msg}",
+)
+
+# Workflow: Think → Act → Think
+memory.add_msg("user", "What products do we have under $50?")
+
+memory = analyze_query(memory)  # Think: convert to query
+query = memory.get_var("analyze_query_result")
+
+memory = search(memory, query=query, limit=20)  # Act: search database
+
+memory = synthesize(memory)  # Think: synthesize answer
+answer = memory.get_var("synthesize_result")
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🎯 Philosophy: The Zen of ThoughtFlow
+
+ThoughtFlow is guided by principles documented in [**ZEN.md**](ZEN.md):
+
+| Principle | What It Means |
+|-----------|---------------|
+| 🎯 **First Principles First** | Built on fundamentals, not abstractions on abstractions |
+| 🧘 **Complexity is the Enemy** | Pythonic, intuitive, elegant. As light as possible. |
+| 👁️ **Obvious Over Abstract** | If you have to dig deep to understand, the design failed |
+| 🔍 **Transparency is Trust** | Never guess what's happening under the hood |
+| 📦 **Minimize Dependencies** | Zero deps for core. Serverless-ready by default. |
+| ♻️ **Backward Compatibility is Sacred** | Code should endure. Deprecation should be rare. |
+| 🧩 **Modularity Over Monolith** | Composable pieces, not all-or-nothing frameworks |
+| 🚗 **Vehicle, Not Destination** | Your logic, your rules, your journey |
+| 🐍 **Python is King** | Pythonic first. No DSLs, no YAML configs, no magic. |
+
+> *"Don't try to please everyone. Greatness comes from focus, not from trying to do everything."*
+> 
+> — [ZEN.md](ZEN.md)
+
+---
+
+## 🔗 Sister Library: ThoughtBase
+
+**[ThoughtBase](https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtbase)** is an optional companion library providing persistent storage and vector search capabilities.
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import MEMORY, THOUGHT
+from thoughtbase import VectorStore, PersistentMemory
+
+# Create persistent, searchable memory
+store = VectorStore("my_agent_memories")
+persistent_mem = PersistentMemory(store)
+
+# Your normal ThoughtFlow workflow
+thought = THOUGHT(name="respond", llm=llm, prompt="...")
+memory = thought(memory)
+
+# Save to ThoughtBase
+persistent_mem.save(memory)
+
+# Later: search across all saved memories
+results = persistent_mem.search("user preferences about notifications", limit=5)
+
+# Load a specific memory
+memory = persistent_mem.load(session_id="abc123")
+```
+
+> ⚠️ **ThoughtBase is entirely optional.** ThoughtFlow provides complete functionality standalone. ThoughtBase adds persistence and vector search when you need them.
+
+---
+
+## 🔧 Supported Versions
+
+| Version | Python | Status | Notes |
+|---------|--------|--------|-------|
+| **0.0.x** | 3.9 - 3.12 | 🟢 Active | Current development |
+
+**Compatibility Policy:**
+- We test against Python 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, and 3.12
+- We aim to support new Python versions within 3 months of stable release
+- Breaking changes are avoided; when necessary, deprecation warnings come first
+
+---
+
+## 🧪 Testing & Evaluation
+
+ThoughtFlow is designed for **deterministic testing**:
+
+```python
+from thoughtflow import MEMORY
+from thoughtflow.eval import Harness, Replay
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# RECORD AND REPLAY
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Record a session
+memory = MEMORY()
+# ... run your workflow ...
+memory.save("session_recording.pkl")
+
+# Replay for testing
+replay = MEMORY()
+replay.load("session_recording.pkl")
+
+# Assert on results
+assert replay.get_var("final_result") == expected_value
+assert len(replay.get_msgs()) == expected_message_count
+
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+# EVALUATION HARNESS
+# ═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+# Define test cases
+test_cases = [
+    {"input": "What's 2+2?", "expected_contains": "4"},
+    {"input": "Capital of France?", "expected_contains": "Paris"},
+]
+
+# Run evaluation
+harness = Harness(test_cases=test_cases)
+results = harness.run(my_workflow_function)
+
+# Analyze results
+for result in results:
+    print(f"Input: {result['input']}")
+    print(f"Output: {result['output']}")
+    print(f"Passed: {result['passed']}")
+```
+
+---
+
+## 📁 Project Structure
+
+```
+thoughtflow/
+├── src/thoughtflow/
+│   ├── __init__.py      # Public API exports
+│   ├── llm.py           # LLM class - multi-provider interface
+│   ├── memory/
+│   │   ├── __init__.py
+│   │   └── base.py      # MEMORY class - event-sourced state
+│   ├── thought.py       # THOUGHT class - cognitive unit
+│   ├── action.py        # ACTION class - external operations
+│   ├── _util.py         # Utilities (event_stamp, valid_extract, etc.)
+│   ├── tools/           # Tool registry for function calling
+│   ├── trace/           # Session tracing and events
+│   └── eval/            # Evaluation harness and replay
+├── examples/            # Working, runnable examples
+│   ├── 01_hello_world.py
+│   ├── 02_action.py
+│   ├── 03_memory.py
+│   ├── 04_valid_extract.py
+│   └── ...
+├── tests/               # Comprehensive test suite
+│   ├── unit/
+│   └── integration/
+├── docs/                # Documentation source
+├── developer/           # Developer guides
+├── assets/              # Logo and media
+└── ZEN.md               # Philosophy document
+```
+
+---
+
+## 🛠️ Development
+
+```bash
+# Clone the repository
+git clone https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow.git
+cd thoughtflow
+
+# Install in development mode with all extras
+pip install -e ".[dev]"
+
+# Run the test suite
+pytest
+
+# Run with coverage
+pytest --cov=src/thoughtflow
+
+# Lint the code
+ruff check src/
+
+# Format the code
+ruff format src/
+
+# Type check
+mypy src/thoughtflow/
+```
+
+See [developer/](developer/) for comprehensive development documentation.
+
+---
+
+## 📈 Project Status
+
+| Aspect | Status | Notes |
+|--------|--------|-------|
+| **Core Primitives** | ✅ Stable | LLM, MEMORY, THOUGHT, ACTION |
+| **API Stability** | 🟡 Alpha | May evolve based on feedback |
+| **Documentation** | 🟡 In Progress | Core docs complete, expanding |
+| **Test Coverage** | ✅ Comprehensive | Unit + integration tests |
+| **Type Hints** | ✅ Full | Strict mypy compliance |
+| **Serverless Ready** | ✅ Yes | Zero deps, fast cold starts |
+
+See [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) for version history.
+
+---
+
+## 🔒 Security
+
+Found a vulnerability? **Please don't open a public issue.**
+
+See [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md) for our responsible disclosure policy. We take security seriously and will respond within 48 hours.
+
+---
+
+## 🤝 Contributing
+
+We welcome contributions! ThoughtFlow values:
+
+| Principle | What It Means |
+|-----------|---------------|
+| **Simplicity** | Over feature bloat |
+| **Clarity** | Over cleverness |
+| **Explicit** | Over implicit |
+| **Tested** | Everything has tests |
+
+See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines.
+
+---
+
+## 💬 Getting Help
+
+| Need | Where to Go |
+|------|-------------|
+| **Question about usage** | [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/discussions) |
+| **Bug report** | [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/issues) |
+| **Feature request** | [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/jrolf/thoughtflow/issues) |
+| **Security issue** | See [SECURITY.md](SECURITY.md) |
+
+---
+
+## 📖 Resources
+
+| Resource | Description |
+|----------|-------------|
+| 📚 [Documentation](https://thoughtflow.dev) | Full documentation site |
+| 🧘 [ZEN.md](ZEN.md) | Philosophy and design principles |
+| 💡 [examples/](examples/) | Working, runnable examples |
+| 🛠️ [developer/](developer/) | Developer guides and docs |
+| 📝 [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md) | Version history |
+| 🤝 [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) | Contribution guidelines |
+
+---
+
+## 📄 License
+
+[MIT](LICENSE) © James A. Rolfsen
+
+---
+
+<p align="center">
+  <img src="assets/logo.png" alt="ThoughtFlow" width="80">
+</p>
+
+<p align="center">
+  <strong>ThoughtFlow</strong><br>
+  <sub>Because your agent code should be as clear as your thinking.</sub>
+</p>
+
+<p align="center">
+  <sub>Built with ❤️ for developers who believe AI tools should empower, not mystify.</sub>
+</p>
+
+<p align="center">
+  <sub>
+    <a href="#-installation">Install</a> •
+    <a href="#-quick-start">Quick Start</a> •
+    <a href="#-the-four-primitives-in-depth">Deep Dive</a> •
+    <a href="#-contributing">Contribute</a> •
+    <a href="ZEN.md">Philosophy</a>
+  </sub>
+</p>
+
+<p align="center">
+  ⭐ Star us on GitHub — it helps!
+</p>
+
+<!-- 
+═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+HIDDEN SECTIONS: Uncomment when content is ready
+═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+
+## 💬 What People Are Saying
+
+<table>
+<tr>
+<td width="33%">
+
+> *"Finally, an LLM framework that doesn't make me feel stupid."*
+>
+> — **[Name]** <br><sub>Software Engineer</sub>
+
+</td>
+<td width="33%">
+
+> *"Deployed to Lambda in 10 minutes. Try that with LangChain."*
+>
+> — **[Name]** <br><sub>DevOps Engineer</sub>
+
+</td>
+<td width="33%">
+
+> *"I read the entire source in one sitting. That's unheard of."*
+>
+> — **[Name]** <br><sub>AI Researcher</sub>
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+## 🏗️ Built With ThoughtFlow
+
+<table>
+<tr>
+<td width="33%">
+
+### 🤖 Project Name
+**Description**
+
+A conversational AI assistant built with ThoughtFlow.
+
+[View Project →](link)
+
+</td>
+<td width="33%">
+
+### 📊 Project Name
+**Description**
+
+Data analysis agent using ThoughtFlow workflows.
+
+[View Project →](link)
+
+</td>
+<td width="33%">
+
+### 🎮 Project Name
+**Description**
+
+Interactive application powered by ThoughtFlow.
+
+[View Project →](link)
+
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+## 👥 Contributor Spotlight
+
+<table>
+<tr>
+<td align="center">
+  <a href="https://github.com/jrolf">
+    <img src="https://github.com/jrolf.png" width="80px;" alt="James Rolfsen"/><br>
+    <sub><b>James Rolfsen</b></sub>
+  </a>
+  <br><sub>Creator & Maintainer</sub>
+</td>
+<td align="center">
+  <a href="#">
+    <img src="https://github.com/[username].png" width="80px;" alt="Contributor"/><br>
+    <sub><b>[Name]</b></sub>
+  </a>
+  <br><sub>Core Contributor</sub>
+</td>
+<td align="center">
+  <a href="CONTRIBUTING.md">
+    <sub><b>You?</b></sub>
+  </a>
+  <br><sub><a href="CONTRIBUTING.md">Join Us →</a></sub>
+</td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+## 🌐 Community
+
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="[discord-link]"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Discord-Join%20Us-7289da?style=for-the-badge&logo=discord&logoColor=white" alt="Discord"></a>
+  &nbsp;
+  <a href="[twitter-link]"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Twitter-Follow-1DA1F2?style=for-the-badge&logo=twitter&logoColor=white" alt="Twitter"></a>
+</p>
+
+───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+
+## 🎮 Try It Now
+
+<p align="center">
+  <a href="[replit-link]"><img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Open%20in%20Replit-Try%20ThoughtFlow-667881?style=for-the-badge&logo=replit&logoColor=white" alt="Replit"></a>
+  &nbsp;
+  <a href="[colab-link]"><img src="https://colab.research.google.com/assets/colab-badge.svg" alt="Open In Colab"></a>
+</p>
+
+═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
+-->