3.2 KiB
KaizenAgentic Intent Gap Analysis
Date: 2026-06-16
Scope: INTENT.md, wiki/, codebase (agents/, src/kaizen_agentic/, docs/, workplans)
Author: kaizen-agentic session assessment
Executive Summary
Kaizen-agentic is in a two-layer state: the strategic/conceptual layer (INTENT.md, wiki/) is well-developed; the operational layer (agents, CLI, agency framework) is substantial but implements a deployment and memory product more than a measurable continuous-improvement engine.
The largest gap: the measurement → optimization → specification refinement loop described in INTENT is largely unbuilt. Addressed by KAIZEN-WP-0003 (registered 2026-06-16).
Alignment
| INTENT asset | Status |
|---|---|
| Mission and conceptual model | wiki/ established |
| KaizenAgent definition template | wiki/KaizenAgentTemplate.md — not enforced in agents |
| Meta-optimizer concept | wiki/AgentKaizenOptimizer.md + agent-optimization.md — no data pipeline |
| Idempotent/measurable principles | Documented; not in agent implementations |
| Codebase improvement guidance | wiki/KaizenGuidance.md — vision only |
| Prompts/experiments/mantras | wiki/KaizenPrompting.md — not operationalized |
| Product/pricing/brand | wiki/ complete |
| Agency memory + Coach | WP-0002 shipped |
| CLI deployment | Functional (21 agents) |
Critical Gaps
1. Kaizen loop not closed
INTENT requires evidence-based refinement with before/after deltas. Reality: OptimizationLoop exists but is unwired; no .kaizen/metrics/; WP-0001 telemetry unstarted.
2. Agent template not enforced
Agents use minimal YAML frontmatter; wiki/KaizenAgentTemplate.md (metrics, idempotency, testing, evolution) is reference only.
3. KaizenGuidance unbuilt
No guide catalog, manifests, codemods, or Parse→Measure pipeline.
4. Coach vs optimizer not integrated
Qualitative memory (Coach) and quantitative optimization (optimizer) are separate paths.
5. Agent implementation boundary undeclared
INTENT says repo should not own all concrete agent implementations; 21 agents live here as reference fleet — interim state needs explicit policy.
Design Principles Scorecard
| Principle | Status |
|---|---|
| Continuous Improvement | Partial (memory; no automated refinement) |
| Measurable by Default | Gap |
| Idempotent Operations | Gap |
| Evidence over Intuition | Gap |
| Separation of Concerns | Partial |
| Composable Capabilities | Gap |
| Human-Readable + Machine-Executable | Gap (guidance) |
| Rollback-Ready Evolution | Partial |
| Compounding Value | Partial (memory only) |
Remediation Sequence
- WP-0003 — metrics convention, CLI, optimizer wiring, Coach bridge (active)
- WP-0004 — ecosystem integration (agentic-resources, activity-core, artifact-store)
- Future — KaizenGuidance catalog, phase-memory upgrade, full template conformance
Related Artifacts
SCOPE.md— updated 2026-06-16workplans/KAIZEN-WP-0003-measurement-loop.mdhistory/2026-06-16-ecosystem-assessment.mdwiki/EcosystemIntegration.mddocs/adr/ADR-004-project-metrics-convention.md