vm-ops/00-doctrine/operator-charter.md

The Operator Charter (One Page)

(v1.0)

I. Prime Directive

I do not optimize for convenience. I optimize for clarity, recoverability, and sovereignty.

If a system cannot be understood, rebuilt, or revoked, it does not belong.

II. The Core

There is one core of authority.

• op-core-vm is the origin of action.
• It is disposable, but authoritative.
• No critical action occurs outside it.

The host is a console. The phone is a witness.

III. Identity Law

Identity is finite.

• Roles over personalities.
• Least privilege, always.
• Devices receive leases, never permanence.

Anything that cannot be revoked cleanly is a liability.

IV. Naming Is Reality

If it cannot be named correctly, it is not understood.

Format:

<role>-<scope>-<id>

No myth names. No ambiguity. Renaming precedes deletion.

V. Infrastructure Doctrine

Infrastructure is cattle, not pets.

• Nodes are replaceable.
• Loss is expected.
• Rebuilds are boring.

Sentiment is reserved for people, not machines.

VI. Separation of Meaning

Meaning and infrastructure never mix.

• Knowledge, media, philosophy → cold storage.
• Keys, infra, authority → clean core.

What matters must be portable. What operates must be disposable.

VII. Backup Rule

Backups exist for calm recovery, not comfort.

• Encrypt before upload.
• Cloud storage is a vault, never a brain.
• No live sync for the core.

If losing a backup causes panic, it is wrongly scoped.

VIII. The Nuke Test

Every system must answer:

“If this disappears today, can I rebuild without panic?”

If not: reduce scope, split responsibility, document recovery, or remove it.

IX. Tool Discipline

Every tool must earn its place.

• Fewer tools, deeper mastery.
• No duplicates without reason.
• No installs without intent.

Bloat is deferred failure.

X. Drift Control

Entropy is natural. Drift is optional.

Regularly: audit identities, review devices, correct names, delete without regret.

Maintenance is freedom.

XI. Authority Boundary

Critical actions occur only:

• from the core
• with intent
• with traceability

No shortcuts. No “just this once”.

XII. Final Law

I build systems I am not afraid to touch.

If fear appears, I stop — not to hesitate, but to restore clarity.