backprop

backprop — bug → spec

Plan-then-execute fixes the code & forgets. SDD fixes the code AND edits spec so recurrence is impossible. That edit is backprop.

WHEN TO BACKPROP

• Test failed at /build verification.
• User reports bug.
• Post-mortem after production incident.
• /check flags VIOLATE with root cause found.

SIX STEPS

1. TRACE

Read failure output / bug report. Find exact file:line of wrong behavior. Name root cause in one caveman sentence.

2. ANALYZE

Ask three questions:

• Would a new §V invariant catch this class of bug? (most common: yes)
• Is §I wrong — did spec claim shape the code cannot deliver? (sometimes)
• Is §T wrong — did we build the wrong thing? (rare but real)

3. PROPOSE

Draft the spec change. Never skip §B; §V/§I/§T are case-by-case.

Template:

§B row: B<next>|<date>|<root cause>|V<N>
§V line: V<next>: <testable rule that would have caught it>

Example:

§B row: B3|2026-04-20|refund job ran twice on retry|V7
§V line: V7: ∀ refund → idempotency key check before charge reversal

4. GENERATE TEST

New invariant without test = lie. Add failing test first. Name test so it cites the invariant: TestV7_RefundIdempotent.

5. VERIFY

Fix code. Run test. Must pass. Run full suite. Must not regress.

6. LOG

Commit spec edit + test + code fix together. Commit msg: backprop §B.<n> + §V.<N>: <one-line cause>.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD INVARIANT

• Testable in code (grep-able or assert-able).
• Scoped to a behavior, not a file.
• Stated positively when possible (! hold over ⊥ forbid).
• References §I surface where it applies.

Bad: V8: code should be correct. Good: V8: ∀ pg_query ! params interpolated via driver, ⊥ string concat.

WHEN NOT TO ADD §V

• Bug was purely mechanical typo with no class (i++ vs i-- in throwaway).
• Fix is a one-time migration.
• Root cause is external dep (upgrade deps instead, note in §C).

Still append §B entry — record that this failure mode was considered. Future bug with same smell → §B search shows precedent.

OUTPUT SHAPE

Every backprop run produces:

1. §B entry (always).
2. §V entry (usually).
3. Test file (when §V added).
4. Code fix.
5. One commit.

No dashboards. No log files. SPEC.md + git is the full history.