The execution core of the ICE environment
Orchestrating agents, workflows, and system state with explicit authority.
ICE Runtime is the authoritative execution layer of the ICE ecosystem.
It is responsible for transforming abstract specifications into controlled, observable, and deterministic execution.
ICE Runtime coordinates how intelligent systems:
- start execution
- transition state
- orchestrate agents and workflows
- enforce execution invariants
- terminate safely and explicitly
It is not a framework. It is not a deployment tool. It is not an application runtime in the traditional sense.
ICE Runtime is the execution substrate on which all ICE-compliant systems operate.
Modern intelligent systems often blur critical boundaries.
Execution, orchestration, inference, lifecycle management, and state control are frequently entangled into opaque runtime behavior.
ICE Runtime exists to separate these concerns explicitly.
Its purpose is to make execution:
- intentional
- inspectable
- governable
- auditable over time
ICE Runtime treats execution as a first-class system property, not as a side-effect of code running.
It exists to answer a fundamental question:
When is execution valid, and who has authority over it?
ICE Runtime is responsible for:
- Defining a single authoritative execution entry point
- Managing lifecycle phases explicitly
- Orchestrating agents and workflows deterministically
- Enforcing forward-only execution semantics
- Managing and exposing system state transitions
- Emitting structured execution signals for observability
- Acting as the operational bridge between theory and implementation
ICE Runtime deliberately does not implement:
- user interfaces
- domain-specific business logic
- model inference
- long-term memory systems
These concerns belong to other ICE domains.
ICE Runtime operates as a controlled execution environment.
Execution follows explicit phases:
Validation of preconditions and authority handoff into runtime control.
Registration and wiring of runtime components.
Deterministic orchestration of agents and workflows.
Emission of structured execution events and state snapshots.
Controlled shutdown with invariant enforcement.
Execution is forward-only.
Rollback is never implicit.
State transitions are explicit and inspectable.
ICE Runtime is one domain within a modular system.
-
ICE Foundation
Defines axioms, invariants, and non-negotiable execution rules. -
ICE Engine
Implements higher-level reasoning and decision-making logic
(currently private). -
ICE Observability
Provides structured introspection, tracing, and analysis of execution.
ICE Runtime sits between specification and execution.
It is the layer where theory becomes operational.
ICE Runtime is under active development.
- APIs are evolving
- execution semantics are stabilizing
- public interfaces may change
- backward compatibility is not guaranteed yet
This repository should be considered pre-stable.
Design correctness and architectural clarity are prioritized over velocity.
Note: Documentation is actively evolving alongside the runtime.
At this stage, ICE Runtime is intended for:
- contributors
- researchers
- system architects
- early adopters exploring execution-centric system design
Usage examples, reference implementations, and setup guides will be introduced incrementally as the runtime matures.
Contributions are welcome and encouraged.
However, ICE Runtime enforces strict architectural boundaries.
Before contributing:
- understand the execution model
- read ICE Foundation documents
- avoid introducing implicit behavior
- avoid hidden or emergent state transitions
More detailed contribution guidelines will follow.
This project is licensed under the terms specified in the LICENSE file.
