experiments: make 'the public API is near-frozen' an explicit rule - #224
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The runner goal already said "preserving the lean public API," but it wasn't enforced — three open experiments (208/209 batch APIs, 160 IVM) grew the public surface. State the rule outright: delivering a win under the existing public surface is the default; adding or changing public API is discouraged and only worth proposing for a massive, broadly-applicable win that genuinely can't be delivered under the current surface (not a niche or trade-off-shaped win, and this applies to moonshots too). An experiment that only pays off as new public API and doesn't clear the bar is rejected on those grounds. Added the full policy to experiments/RUNNER_INSTRUCTIONS.md (Goal) and a concise mirror + pointer in the resqlite-experiment SKILL.md contract. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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Pull request overview
This PR makes “the public API is near-frozen” an explicit, written rule for resqlite performance experiments, reinforcing that experiments should default to delivering wins under the existing exported surface and only propose new/changed public API for truly massive, broadly-applicable wins.
Changes:
- Adds a detailed policy section under the runner Goal in
experiments/RUNNER_INSTRUCTIONS.md. - Adds a concise mirrored policy section in the
resqlite-experimentskill contract with a deep link to the full policy.
Reviewed changes
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| File | Description |
|---|---|
| experiments/RUNNER_INSTRUCTIONS.md | Documents the near-frozen public API rule as part of the experiment runner’s stated goals and acceptance bar. |
| .claude/skills/resqlite-experiment/SKILL.md | Mirrors the policy in the skill guidance and links to the canonical runner instructions section. |
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This was referenced Jul 1, 2026
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The runner Goal already said "preserving the lean public API," but nothing enforced it — three open experiments grew the public surface (#222
WriteStatement, #223ReadStatement, #155 IVM types). This states the rule outright.Rule: delivering a win under the existing public surface is the default. Adding or changing public API (a new exported type, a new
Databasemethod, a changed return type) is discouraged and only worth proposing for a massive, broadly-applicable win that genuinely cannot be delivered under the current surface — not a niche or trade-off-shaped win the caller opts into by data shape, and this applies to moonshots too. An experiment that only pays off as new public API and doesn't clear the bar is rejected on those grounds.experiments/RUNNER_INSTRUCTIONS.md— full policy under Goal (### The public API is near-frozen)..claude/skills/resqlite-experiment/SKILL.md— concise mirror + pointer in the contract.Companion action: closing #222 and #223 under this rule. #155 (IVM) is held for separate evaluation against the "massive win" bar.
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