The Five Strata
The five strata of the STRATA Protocol are load-bearing, sequential, and interlocking. Each stratum answers a distinct framing question. The answer to each question is the input to the next. Skip or weaken one stratum and the framework degrades — not just that stratum's function, but every stratum that depends on it.
The strata are not a checklist. They are a thinking sequence, an architectural sequence, and an execution sequence — layered into a single governed protocol for AI-assisted software delivery.
The Five Strata at a Glance
| Stratum | Name | Framing Question | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Classification | What kind of project is this? | Determines class, category, and continuity constraints — the input to all downstream decisions |
| 2 | Derivation | What do we need to know before we build it? | Produces the 14 normative documents in dependency order — the knowledge base from which everything else operates |
| 3 | Authority Chain | Who governs the AI — and how? | Establishes the five-node constitutional framework that mandates how the AI copilot operates on this project |
| 4 | Execution Loop | How does work advance, one verified phase at a time? | The repeating, human-gated cycle through which governed AI and human engineer build software together |
| 5 | Artifact Trail | How do we make every decision durable beyond the session? | The continuously assembled record of every decision, deviation, gate pass, and context carried forward |
Explore the Strata
Stratum 1 — Classification
Stratum 2 — Derivation
Stratum 3 — Authority Chain
Reading Order
The five strata are designed to be traversed from Stratum 1 to Stratum 5. Begin with Stratum 1 — Classification and follow the chain. Each stratum page includes navigation links to the stratum above and below, making the chain easy to traverse in sequence.