classify-constraint

Purpose

Classify each identified constraint as hard, soft, or assumption-like and make the consequence of that class explicit.

Input contract

required: [constraint_candidates, evidence_register, decision_context]
optional: [stakeholder_requirements, prior_constraint_ledger]
constraints: [each candidate has a statement, scope, source, and consequence if violated]

Procedure

1. Parse each candidate into condition, scope, source, and violation consequence.
2. Mark hard when violation is disqualifying and externally anchored; soft when tradeable; assumption-like when inferred and testable.
3. Record the evidence and counterevidence supporting the class.
4. Emit the classified ledger and tests or escalation required for uncertain classes.

Output contract

produces: [constraint_ledger, classification_rationale, validation_actions]
delta_fields: [findings, evidence_updates, assumption_updates, uncertainties, decisions]

Quality gates

• Every class has a source, scope, and violation consequence.
• An assumption-like item cannot be enforced as a hard veto until independently validated.

Failure and counterexamples

Do not classify a preference as hard merely because it is strongly stated. Keep ambiguous constraints unresolved.

Provenance map

• resolved: constraint-classification