Apply GH-DEC-2026-017: INTENT.md governs, layer.yaml is derived, no version

Verified against gate-house's committed ruling (decisions/decisions.md,
GH-DEC-2026-017) and amendments A9-A13, then ops-warden's reference change set
(a70f559, wiki/playbooks/netkingdom-layer-declaration.md). They agree.

layer.yaml: standard_version removed; derived: true and derived_from:
INTENT.md added; declared_by kept. INTENT.md frontmatter never carried
standard_version, but its standard: value was a version-pinned path; it is
de-versioned as the reference instance did. No layer value is re-spelled:
INTENT.md still says Engine and layer.yaml still says engine.

The checker changes in the same commit because it listed standard_version as
a required key: removing the field alone would have made a conforming
declaration exit 2 MALFORMED. It now reads INTENT.md as the governing form,
requires the derived marking, rejects a returning standard_version in either
form, checks both layer values against the closed four-token vocabulary
(Taxonomy included) after an ASCII fold, and reports a post-fold disagreement
between the forms as a finding rather than resolving it by precedence.

Tests assert the fold, not per-file spelling, and cover fold agreement, a
real disagreement, the closed vocabulary and a returning version. Full suite
430 passed.

role:, pep-stance.yaml and schema_version are untouched (not ruled). Still
open: where the removed version lives in a derived conformance record; asked
of gate-house by ops-warden (4220413a), followed rather than chosen here.

Closes the SECRETS-WP-0008 note that waited on the reference form.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Assistant: claude-code
Assistant-Model: opus
Assistant-Process: 63291@bnt-lap001
Assistant-Session: 8bd77868-ca68-4f49-bb1e-d539ecc0d703

INTENT.md

@@ -1,9 +1,16 @@
 ---
+# THE layer declaration (§11, GH-DEC-2026-017 §1). `layer.yaml` is derived from
+# this frontmatter and must agree with it; it does not govern. Comparison of the
+# §3 vocabulary is ASCII case-insensitive, so `Engine` here and `engine` there
+# are the same value and neither is re-spelled (GH-DEC-2026-017 §2).
 layer: Engine
 role: Lifecycle
-standard: net-kingdom/canon/standards/security-layer-model_v0.7.md
+# No standard version here or in the sidecar (GH-DEC-2026-017 §5 / A12): the
+# declared layer is a standing property that does not change when the standard
+# is revised. Version-scoped state belongs in the derived conformance record.
+standard: net-kingdom/canon/standards/security-layer-model
 companion: net-kingdom/SECURITY-COMPANION.md
-declaration: layer.yaml
+declaration: layer.yaml       # derived form; this frontmatter governs
 pep_stance: pep-stance.yaml
 declared_at: "2026-08-29"
 ---

layer.yaml

@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 # secrets-engine — NetKingdom security layer declaration
 #
-# Framework: net-kingdom/canon/standards/security-layer-model_v0.7.md
+# Framework: net-kingdom/canon/standards/security-layer-model
 # Companion: net-kingdom/SECURITY-COMPANION.md
 # Voice:     INTENT.md (this repository's own declaration, §11)
+#
+# DERIVED ARTIFACT (§11, GH-DEC-2026-017 §1 / A11). INTENT.md's frontmatter
+# `layer:` key is the declaration and governs; this file derives from it and
+# must agree with it. `engine` here and `Engine` there are one token: §3's
+# vocabulary is closed and compared ASCII case-insensitively (GH-DEC-2026-017
+# §2 / A9), so nothing is re-spelled. No standard version is carried here
+# (GH-DEC-2026-017 §5 / A12).
 # Validate:  python3 scripts/check_layer_conformance.py
 #
 # §11 requires a machine-readable form because prose cannot distinguish a
@@ -16,7 +23,8 @@
 
 schema_version: "0.1"
 framework: netkingdom-security-layer-model
-standard_version: "0.7"
+derived: true
+derived_from: INTENT.md
 repository: secrets-engine
 layer: engine
 role: lifecycle

scripts/check_layer_conformance.py

@@ -4,10 +4,21 @@
 Read-only. This is the Engine/Lifecycle adaptation of the ops-warden reference
 checker. §5 Staff shapes do not apply to the owned OpenBao contact.
 
+Two declaration forms are read. Per GH-DEC-2026-017 §1 (amendment A11)
+INTENT.md's frontmatter `layer:` key governs; layer.yaml is a derived artifact
+that must be marked derived, must name INTENT.md, and must agree with it. The
+sidecar is still read, because a disagreement between the two is a finding in
+its own right, reported rather than resolved away by precedence.
+
+Layer values are compared against §3's closed four-token vocabulary after an
+ASCII case-fold (GH-DEC-2026-017 §2-§3, amendment A9). Nothing is re-spelled:
+`Engine` and `engine` are one token. Neither form carries a standard version
+(GH-DEC-2026-017 §5, amendment A12), and its return is rejected.
+
 Mechanical checks:
 
-- a machine-readable declaration exists and says Engine / Lifecycle
-- INTENT.md frontmatter matches that declaration
+- INTENT.md frontmatter carries the governing `layer:` (Engine) and role
+- layer.yaml is marked derived from INTENT.md and agrees with it after folding
 - no authorization decision surface is exposed
 - the PEP stance map is published at the path named in the declaration
 - every OpenBao subprocess adapter lives in a module listed as owned tooling
@@ -35,6 +46,34 @@ DECISION_SURFACE = re.compile(
     r"""\b(evaluate_policy|check_permission|render_decision|pdp_decide)\b"""
 )
 
+# §3's vocabulary: closed, four tokens, compared case-insensitively
+# (GH-DEC-2026-017 §3, amendment A9). Taxonomy is in it.
+LAYER_VOCABULARY = {"taxonomy", "tooling", "engine", "staff"}
+EXPECTED_LAYER = "engine"
+
+
+def _fold(value: object) -> str:
+    """ASCII case-fold, per §3 as amended: two spellings of a token are one token."""
+    return str(value).strip().encode("ascii", "ignore").decode().lower()
+
+
+def _no_standard_version(where: str, data: dict) -> None:
+    if "standard_version" in data:
+        print(
+            f"MALFORMED: {where} carries 'standard_version' — a layer declaration "
+            "MUST NOT carry a standard version (§11 as amended by A12)"
+        )
+        raise SystemExit(2)
+
+
+def _in_vocabulary(where: str, layer: object) -> None:
+    if _fold(layer) not in LAYER_VOCABULARY:
+        print(
+            f"MALFORMED: {where} declares layer {layer!r}, outside §3's closed "
+            f"vocabulary {sorted(LAYER_VOCABULARY)} (case-insensitive)"
+        )
+        raise SystemExit(2)
+
 
 def load_declaration() -> dict:
     if not DECL.exists():
@@ -45,7 +84,8 @@ def load_declaration() -> dict:
         "layer",
         "role",
         "repository",
-        "standard_version",
+        "derived",
+        "derived_from",
         "owned_tooling",
         "decision_surfaces_exposed",
         "pep_shaped",
@@ -54,9 +94,18 @@ def load_declaration() -> dict:
         if key not in decl:
             print(f"MALFORMED: layer.yaml has no {key!r}")
             raise SystemExit(2)
-    if decl["layer"] != "engine":
-        print(f"MALFORMED: declared layer is {decl['layer']!r}, expected 'engine'")
+    # §11 derived-artifact rule (GH-DEC-2026-017 §1): marked, naming its source.
+    if decl["derived"] is not True:
+        print("MALFORMED: layer.yaml must be marked 'derived: true' (§11, GH-DEC-2026-017 §1)")
         raise SystemExit(2)
+    if decl["derived_from"] != "INTENT.md":
+        print(
+            f"MALFORMED: layer.yaml derives from {decl['derived_from']!r}; §11 names "
+            "INTENT.md as the governing declaration"
+        )
+        raise SystemExit(2)
+    _no_standard_version("layer.yaml", decl)
+    _in_vocabulary("layer.yaml", decl["layer"])
     if decl["role"] != "lifecycle":
         print(f"MALFORMED: declared role is {decl['role']!r}, expected 'lifecycle'")
         raise SystemExit(2)
@@ -75,7 +124,13 @@ def intent_frontmatter() -> dict:
     if end < 0:
         print("MALFORMED: INTENT.md frontmatter is unclosed")
         raise SystemExit(2)
-    return yaml.safe_load(text[3:end]) or {}
+    front = yaml.safe_load(text[3:end]) or {}
+    if "layer" not in front:
+        print("MALFORMED: INTENT.md frontmatter has no 'layer' key — §11's declaration")
+        raise SystemExit(2)
+    _no_standard_version("INTENT.md frontmatter", front)
+    _in_vocabulary("INTENT.md frontmatter", front["layer"])
+    return front
 
 
 def owned_modules(decl: dict) -> set[str]:
@@ -118,13 +173,24 @@ def main() -> int:
     ap.add_argument("--report", action="store_true")
     args = ap.parse_args()
 
-    decl = load_declaration()
     front = intent_frontmatter()
+    decl = load_declaration()
     ok = True
 
-    if str(front.get("layer", "")).lower() != "engine":
+    governing = front["layer"]
+    if _fold(governing) != EXPECTED_LAYER:
         ok = False
-        print("FINDING: INTENT.md frontmatter layer is not Engine")
+        print(f"FINDING: INTENT.md frontmatter layer is {governing!r}, not Engine")
+    # §11 as amended (A11): a post-fold disagreement between the two forms is a
+    # finding in its own right, reported rather than resolved by precedence.
+    if _fold(decl["layer"]) != _fold(governing):
+        ok = False
+        print(
+            "FINDING: DECLARATION DISAGREEMENT (§11) — "
+            f"INTENT.md (governs) layer: {governing!r}; "
+            f"layer.yaml (derived) layer: {decl['layer']!r}. "
+            "Case is already folded; this is a disagreement about a layer."
+        )
     if str(front.get("role", "")).lower() != "lifecycle":
         ok = False
         print("FINDING: INTENT.md frontmatter role is not Lifecycle")
@@ -161,9 +227,10 @@ def main() -> int:
 
     if args.report:
         print(
-            f"{decl['repository']} — layer: {decl['layer']} "
-            f"role: {decl['role']} (model v{decl['standard_version']})"
+            f"{decl['repository']} — layer: {governing} role: {front.get('role')} "
+            "(declared in INTENT.md; §11 governing form)"
         )
+        print(f"layer.yaml: derived from {decl['derived_from']}, layer: {decl['layer']}")
         print(f"declared by {decl['declared_by']}")
         print(f"pep stance: {decl['pep_stance']}")
         print(f"owned OpenBao modules: {sorted(owned)}")

tests/test_layer_conformance.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ from the code is worse than none.
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import importlib.util
 import subprocess
 import sys
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -38,28 +39,108 @@ def _stance() -> dict:
     return yaml.safe_load(STANCE.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
 
 
+def _front() -> dict:
+    text = INTENT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+    assert text.startswith("---"), "companion §2 requires INTENT.md frontmatter"
+    end = text.find("\n---", 3)
+    return yaml.safe_load(text[3:end])
+
+
+def _fold(value: object) -> str:
+    """§3 as amended (A9): comparison is ASCII case-insensitive."""
+    return str(value).strip().encode("ascii", "ignore").decode().lower()
+
+
+def _checker():
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("check_layer_conformance", SCRIPT)
+    module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(module)
+    return module
+
+
 def test_declares_engine_lifecycle_in_its_own_voice():
     assert DECL.exists(), "no layer.yaml — §11 requires a machine-readable declaration"
     data = _decl()
     assert data["repository"] == "secrets-engine"
-    assert data["layer"] == "engine"
+    # Fold, never equality: the ruling declined to order a re-spelling.
+    assert _fold(data["layer"]) == "engine"
     assert data["role"] == "lifecycle"
     assert data["declared_by"] == "INTENT.md"
+    assert data["derived"] is True
+    assert data["derived_from"] == "INTENT.md"
     assert data["decision_surfaces_exposed"] == "none"
     assert data["pep_shaped"] is True
 
 
 def test_intent_frontmatter_matches_declaration():
-    text = INTENT.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-    assert text.startswith("---"), "companion §2 requires INTENT.md frontmatter"
-    end = text.find("\n---", 3)
-    front = yaml.safe_load(text[3:end])
-    assert front["layer"] == "Engine"
+    front = _front()
+    assert _fold(front["layer"]) == "engine"
+    assert _fold(_decl()["layer"]) == _fold(front["layer"]), (
+        "INTENT.md governs and layer.yaml must agree after folding (GH-DEC-2026-017 §1-§2)"
+    )
     assert front["role"] == "Lifecycle"
     assert front["declaration"] == "layer.yaml"
     assert front["pep_stance"] == "pep-stance.yaml"
 
 
+def test_no_standard_version_in_either_form():
+    """GH-DEC-2026-017 §5 / A12: a layer declaration carries no standard version."""
+    assert "standard_version" not in _decl()
+    assert "standard_version" not in _front()
+    assert not str(_front().get("standard", "")).endswith(".md")
+
+
+def _run_checker(tmp_path, monkeypatch, intent_layer: str, sidecar_layer: str) -> int:
+    checker = _checker()
+    front = _front()
+    front["layer"] = intent_layer
+    intent = tmp_path / "INTENT.md"
+    intent.write_text("---\n" + yaml.safe_dump(front) + "---\n\n# INTENT\n", encoding="utf-8")
+    decl = _decl()
+    decl["layer"] = sidecar_layer
+    sidecar = tmp_path / "layer.yaml"
+    sidecar.write_text(yaml.safe_dump(decl), encoding="utf-8")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(checker, "INTENT", intent)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(checker, "DECL", sidecar)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(sys, "argv", ["check_layer_conformance.py"])
+    try:
+        return checker.main()
+    except SystemExit as exc:
+        return int(exc.code)
+
+
+def test_checker_folds_case_between_forms(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    assert _run_checker(tmp_path, monkeypatch, "ENGINE", "engine") == 0
+    assert _run_checker(tmp_path, monkeypatch, "Engine", "Engine") == 0
+
+
+def test_checker_reports_a_real_disagreement(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    """A post-fold disagreement is a finding, not resolved by precedence."""
+    assert _run_checker(tmp_path, monkeypatch, "Engine", "staff") == 1
+    assert "DECLARATION DISAGREEMENT" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+
+def test_checker_vocabulary_is_closed_at_four_tokens(tmp_path, monkeypatch, capsys):
+    checker = _checker()
+    assert checker.LAYER_VOCABULARY == {"taxonomy", "tooling", "engine", "staff"}
+    # Taxonomy is in the vocabulary: a finding (wrong layer for this repo), not MALFORMED.
+    assert _run_checker(tmp_path, monkeypatch, "Taxonomy", "taxonomy") == 1
+    assert _run_checker(tmp_path, monkeypatch, "surface", "surface") == 2
+    assert "outside §3's closed vocabulary" in capsys.readouterr().out
+
+
+def test_checker_rejects_a_returning_standard_version(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    checker = _checker()
+    decl = _decl()
+    decl["standard_version"] = "0.8"
+    sidecar = tmp_path / "layer.yaml"
+    sidecar.write_text(yaml.safe_dump(decl), encoding="utf-8")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(checker, "DECL", sidecar)
+    with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as raised:
+        checker.load_declaration()
+    assert raised.value.code == 2
+
+
 def test_checker_passes_on_the_real_tree():
     result = subprocess.run(
         [sys.executable, str(SCRIPT)],

workplans/SECRETS-WP-0008-layer-model-lifecycle-conformance.md

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ flavor: implementation
 owner: grok
 topic_slug: custodian
 created: "2026-08-29"
-updated: "2026-09-09"
+updated: "2026-09-21"
 state_hub_workstream_id: "9c9e5164-b2f5-5ea2-a557-5368d65e9fe0"
 ---
 
@@ -416,6 +416,47 @@ No task is opened here by hand. This is a note against the workplan that already
 owns `layer.yaml` / `pep-stance.yaml` / INTENT frontmatter staying in one voice;
 the work lands under that exit criterion when ops-warden's form is published.
 
+### 2026-09-21 GH-DEC-2026-017 applied — reference form published, note closed
+
+ops-warden published the reference form (commit `a70f559`,
+`wiki/playbooks/netkingdom-layer-declaration.md` "Reference-form change set").
+Re-read against the ruling in `gate-house/decisions/decisions.md` and
+amendments A9–A13 before editing; the ruling and the playbook agree.
+
+Applied in one commit, field and checker together:
+
+- `layer.yaml`: `standard_version: "0.7"` removed; `derived: true` and
+  `derived_from: INTENT.md` added (`declared_by: INTENT.md` kept, as the note
+  above required). Header comment marks the file derived and drops the version
+  from the framework citation.
+- `INTENT.md` frontmatter: never carried `standard_version`, but its
+  `standard:` value was a version-pinned path (`..._v0.7.md`). De-versioned to
+  `net-kingdom/canon/standards/security-layer-model`, as the reference instance
+  did, because a pinned path in the governing form is a standard version by
+  another name. The field is kept; only the pin is gone.
+- **No layer value re-spelled.** INTENT says `Engine`, layer.yaml says
+  `engine`; both unchanged.
+- `scripts/check_layer_conformance.py`: `standard_version` was a required key,
+  so removing the field alone would have exited 2 MALFORMED. It now reads
+  INTENT.md as the governing form, requires the derived marking, rejects a
+  returning `standard_version` in either form, validates both layer values
+  against the closed four-token vocabulary (Taxonomy included) after an ASCII
+  fold, and reports a post-fold disagreement between the forms as a finding.
+- `tests/test_layer_conformance.py`: per-file equality on the layer spelling
+  replaced by fold assertions; new tests for fold agreement, a real
+  disagreement (finding, exit 1), the closed vocabulary (`surface` exit 2,
+  `Taxonomy` admitted), and a returning `standard_version` (exit 2).
+  Full suite: 430 passed.
+
+`role:` untouched (not ruled). `pep-stance.yaml` untouched (a stance map, not
+a declaration). `schema_version` left at `0.1` — ops-warden bumped its own, but
+the ruling does not call for it.
+
+**Still open, not ours to answer:** where the removed version lives. A12 says
+the derived conformance record already MUST carry it; our checker, like
+ops-warden's, is re-runnable and emits nothing durable. ops-warden asked
+gate-house (message `4220413a`); we follow that answer rather than choose.
+
 ## Exit criteria
 
 - The published PEP stance is the shipped default and stance application is