# Nomarchy — agent entry point

Nomarchy is a NixOS-based distro: rock-stable, fully reproducible, themed
from one JSON, configured through a menu that writes into the user's own
flake checkout. Read the README for the architecture.

## If you're here to work autonomously (the loop)
Follow **`agent/LOOP.md`** — it defines one iteration: orient
(GOALS/BACKLOG/JOURNAL/MEMORY), take the top actionable BACKLOG item,
verify up the V0–V3 ladder, commit+push on `main`, record. All loop state
is git-tracked in `agent/`.

## Rules that apply to every session, loop or not
- **Honesty rule** (docs/TESTING.md): for visual/interactive changes,
  evaluation is not rendering — state exactly what you verified and at
  which tier. Cheap check first, always: `nix flake check --no-build`.
- **Conventions** (`agent/CONVENTIONS.md`): in-flake state, menu
  placement, Waybar parity with the summer whole-swaps, toggle-vs-package
  discipline, commented template examples for opt-ins.
- **Git:** direct commits on `main`, pushed; `v1` is the human-only
  release pointer — never touch it. Never run `nix flake update` unless
  the task is a lock bump. No formatter — match the aligned
  hand-formatting.
- Machine-specifics live in `hosts/`, the distro in `modules/`, data in
  `themes/`, code in `pkgs/`, maintainer tools in `tools/`.

## Delegation

The higher your tier, the more you delegate. Push the work down, keep your own context for judgment. Brief every child: the context, the why, what done looks like. It starts blank and inherits nothing.

| Model | Best for | Delegate? | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haiku | bulk mechanical | never | low |
| Sonnet | scoped research | when it helps | medium |
| Opus 4.8 | multi-step reasoning | on clear benefit | xhigh |
| Fable 5 | judgment, taste | by default | medium |

Fable goes xhigh only for the hardest calls. Skip high.

## Escalation

The parent doesn't have to be the top model. An Opus parent spawns a Fable child for the one hard call. The child answers and returns. Work above your tier? Return it, don't burn tokens on it.