atlas-ledger

Atlas Ledger v2.2

Give the Atlas series a memory.

Contents

1. [Output Language](#1-output-language)
2. [When To Run](#2-when-to-run)
3. [Distillation (the core)](#3-distillation-the-core) — Steps 1–6
4. [Atlas.md format](#4-atlasmd-format)
5. [Clause maintenance](#5-clause-maintenance-keep-the-ledger-alive-not-ossified)
6. [Integration with atlas-contract](#6-integration-with-atlas-contract-the-read-back-half)
7. [Final Principle](#7-final-principle)

Quick reference

caught drift (auto handoff from Final Audit / Post Review / Phase Check / user request)
 → Step 1  state facts, not motive
 → Step 2  draft WHEN / DON'T / INSTEAD
 → Step 3  four gates: Actionability → Replay → Generalization → Over-reach
 → Step 4  first occurrence = Observation [O#]; repeat or high-severity = Clause [L#]
 → Step 5  propose, ATLAS_STOP, write only after user confirms
 → Step 6  merge-first into Atlas.md; confirmed clauses ≤ 15

atlas-contract defends the goal within one conversation, but it starts from zero every time — it does not know where this project drifted before. atlas-ledger closes that gap: when a drift is caught, it distills the lesson into a permanent, project-local contract clause and (after the user confirms) writes it to Atlas.md. Next time atlas-contract builds a Goal Contract, it loads the relevant clauses, so the defense line thickens with