IFEM phase · runtime
Runtime — IFEM Doctrine
Runtime extends the doctrine beyond delivery: the system must continue to reveal whether its boundaries, ownership, and contracts hold under real operation.
Purpose
The purpose is to preserve dependable behavior through operational signals, ownership, controlled change, and feedback from the environment where the system actually runs.
Inputs and responsibilities
Runtime receives verified release material, operational responsibilities, observability expectations, incident paths, and rules for safe evolution.
Outputs and artifacts
Artifacts include operational checks, ownership records, runbook decisions, feedback signals, and evidence that runtime behavior remains within the intended contract.
Verification and decision gate
Verification looks for observable drift, contract violations, unclear ownership, and feedback that should refine a future intent or contract.
Common failure modes
Production behavior is treated as someone else’s problem, operational evidence is missing, or incidents change the boundary without a deliberate decision.
Execution notes
Runtime enforcement closes the loop between a released contract and the environment that consumes it. Operational controls can expose drift, unexpected errors, ownership gaps, and signals that a safe rollback is needed. Runtime evidence should feed a deliberate decision: preserve the current boundary, revise a contract, or return to Intent with a newly observed engineering outcome. This keeps production feedback connected to the same chain of accountability.