# Monarchic AI Protocol
[](https://github.com/monarchic-ai/monarchic-agent-protocol/actions/workflows/ci.yml)
[](https://github.com/monarchic-ai/monarchic-agent-protocol/actions/workflows/release.yml)
This repository defines the shared, versioned protocol for Monarchic AI. It is the compatibility layer between the orchestrator, runner, and agent roles, so the schemas are minimal and stable while allowing forward-compatible extensions.
## Overview
- Provide versioned JSON Schemas for language-agnostic validation.
- Provide Rust, TypeScript, and Protobuf bindings that mirror the schemas.
- Keep the protocol small and explicit for v1 interoperability.
## Usage
### Quickstart
Install the published package for your language, then use the generated bindings.
### Install
- Rust (crates.io): `cargo add monarchic-agent-protocol`
- TypeScript (npm): `npm install @monarchic-ai/monarchic-agent-protocol`
- Python (PyPI): `pip install monarchic-agent-protocol`
- Ruby (RubyGems): `gem install monarchic-agent-protocol`
- Go (Go modules): `go get github.com/monarchic-ai/monarchic-agent-protocol/src/go@vX.Y.Z`
- Java/Kotlin (JitPack): `implementation("com.github.monarchic-ai:monarchic-agent-protocol:vX.Y.Z")`
- .NET (NuGet): `dotnet add package Monarchic.AgentProtocol`
- PHP (Packagist): `composer require monarchic-ai/monarchic-agent-protocol`
### Examples
- Rust: `examples/rust/task.rs`
- TypeScript: `examples/ts/task.ts`
- Protobuf C++: `examples/proto/cpp/task.cpp`
- Protobuf Java: `examples/proto/java/TaskExample.java`
- Protobuf Kotlin: `examples/proto/kotlin/TaskExample.kt`
- Protobuf C#: `examples/proto/csharp/TaskExample.cs`
- Protobuf Python: `examples/proto/python/task.py`
- Protobuf Ruby: `examples/proto/ruby/task.rb`
- Protobuf PHP: `examples/proto/php/task.php`
- Protobuf Dart: `examples/proto/dart/task.dart`
- Protobuf Rust: `examples/proto/rust/task.rs`
### Versioning
- Protocol versions live under `schemas/v1/`.
- Each v1 object requires `version: "v1"`.
- New versions must be added under a new directory (e.g. `schemas/v2/`) without changing existing v1 files.
### Schema summary
JSON Schema files are generated from the protobuf definitions. Do not edit them by hand.
Schema files live under `schemas/v1/`:
- `schemas/v1/task.json`
- `schemas/v1/artifact.json`
- `schemas/v1/event.json`
- `schemas/v1/gate_result.json`
- `schemas/v1/run_context.json`
- `schemas/v1/delivery_contract.json`
- `schemas/v1/agent_role.json`
- `schemas/v1/dataset_ref.json`
- `schemas/v1/experiment_spec.json`
- `schemas/v1/objective_spec.json`
- `schemas/v1/eval_result.json`
- `schemas/v1/provenance.json`
- `schemas/v1/schema.json` (index)
- `schemas/v1/monarchic_agent_protocol.proto`
All schemas allow additional properties for forward compatibility.
### Schema index coverage
`schemas/v1/schema.json` is the canonical top-level JSON schema index. Its `oneOf` entries currently cover:
- `schemas/v1/task.json`
- `schemas/v1/artifact.json`
- `schemas/v1/event.json`
- `schemas/v1/gate_result.json`
- `schemas/v1/run_context.json`
- `schemas/v1/dataset_ref.json`
- `schemas/v1/experiment_spec.json`
- `schemas/v1/objective_spec.json`
- `schemas/v1/eval_result.json`
- `schemas/v1/provenance.json`
`schemas/v1/agent_role.json` is a shared schema used by `task.json`.
### AgentRole
Enum values:
- `product_owner`
- `project_manager`
- `dev`
- `qa`
- `reviewer`
- `security`
- `ops`
Example:
```json
{
"role": "reviewer"
}
```
### Task
Represents work assigned to an agent.
Required fields:
- `version`: `"v1"`
- `task_id`: stable identifier
- `role`: `AgentRole`
- `goal`: human-readable objective
Optional fields:
- `inputs`: free-form object
- `constraints`: free-form object
- `gates_required`: list of gate names to run (ex: `["qa", "security"]`)
- `run_context`: `RunContext`
- `delivery_contract`: typed acceptance and risk contract for autonomous delivery loops
- `objective_spec`: objective scoring contract for deterministic outcome evaluation
- `experiment_spec`: typed experiment design contract for deterministic in silico runs
Example:
```json
{
"version": "v1",
"task_id": "task-123",
"role": "dev",
"goal": "Implement protocol types",
"inputs": {
"issue": "https://example.com/issues/42"
},
"constraints": {
"no_network": true
},
"gates_required": ["qa", "security"],
"run_context": {
"version": "v1",
"repo": "monarchic-agent-protocol",
"worktree": "/worktrees/task-123",
"image": "ghcr.io/monarchic/runner:stable",
"runner": "vm-runner-01",
"labels": ["linux", "rust"]
}
}
```
### DeliveryContract
Typed acceptance contract for autonomous delivery execution.
Required fields:
- `objective`: plain-language objective statement
- `definition_of_done`: ordered completion checklist
- `required_checks`: required gate/check names for merge readiness
- `risk_tier`: `low | medium | high | critical`
Optional fields include cycle/turn budgets (`max_cycle_minutes`, `max_agent_turns`) and PR/review/rollback strategy hints.
### RunContext
Execution hints for a runner.
Required fields:
- `version`: `"v1"`
- `repo`: repository identifier or URL
- `worktree`: worktree path or identifier
- `image`: VM/container image reference
- `runner`: runner identifier
Optional fields:
- `labels`: list of labels or tags
Example:
```json
{
"version": "v1",
"repo": "monarchic-agent-protocol",
"worktree": "/worktrees/task-123",
"image": "ghcr.io/monarchic/runner:stable",
"runner": "vm-runner-01",
"labels": ["linux", "rust"]
}
```
### Artifact
Outputs produced by an agent or runner.
Required fields:
- `version`: `"v1"`
- `artifact_id`: stable identifier
- `type`: artifact type (ex: `patch`, `log`, `report`)
- `summary`: short description
- `path`: path or locator for the artifact
- `task_id`: task identifier that produced it
- `provenance`: typed provenance hashes and runtime metadata
- `dataset_refs`: datasets used while producing the artifact
- `eval_results`: typed metric outputs with optional uncertainty bounds
- `experiment_spec`: optional copy of experiment contract used for this output
Example:
```json
{
"version": "v1",
"artifact_id": "artifact-987",
"type": "patch",
"summary": "Adds v1 protocol schemas",
"path": "artifacts/task-123/patch.diff",
"task_id": "task-123"
}
```
### Event
Lifecycle state updates.
Required fields:
- `version`: `"v1"`
- `event_type`: event category
- `timestamp`: ISO 8601 timestamp
- `task_id`: task identifier
- `status`: state label
Optional fields:
- `message`: human-readable details
- `provenance`: typed runtime/source hashes for event attribution
- `eval_results`: optional metric snapshot payloads
Example:
```json
{
"version": "v1",
"event_type": "task_started",
"timestamp": "2025-01-14T15:04:05Z",
"task_id": "task-123",
"status": "running",
"message": "Runner started VM"
}
```
### GateResult
Outcome of QA, review, security, or other gates.
Required fields:
- `version`: `"v1"`
- `gate`: gate name
- `status`: pass/fail or other gate-specific status
Optional fields:
- `reason`: short explanation
- `evidence`: free-form object with supporting data
Example:
```json
{
"version": "v1",
"gate": "security",
"status": "pass",
"reason": "No high or critical findings",
"evidence": {
"scanner": "trivy",
"report_path": "artifacts/task-123/security.json"
}
}
```
### DatasetRef
Reference to a dataset used by an experiment or output artifact.
Required fields:
- `dataset_id`
- `sha256`
- `format`
Optional fields include `uri`, `split`, `size_bytes`, and `description`.
### ExperimentSpec
Typed contract for model design and acceptance checks.
Required fields:
- `experiment_id`
- `objective`
- `dataset_refs`: list of `DatasetRef`
- `acceptance`: metric threshold policy
Optional fields include `hypothesis`, `model_family`, `seeds`, and free-form `constraints`.
### ObjectiveSpec
Typed objective scoring contract for progress/outcome checks.
Required fields:
- `metric_key`
- `direction`: `maximize`, `minimize`, or `target`
Optional fields include `target`, `min_delta`, `tolerance`, `report_file`,
`report_task_id`, `weight`, and `description`.
### EvalResult
Typed evaluation output row.
Required fields:
- `metric`
- `value`
- `passed`
Optional fields include `lower_ci`, `upper_ci`, `variance`, `seed`, and `notes`.
### Provenance
Typed provenance contract for reproducibility and traceability.
Required fields:
- `prompt_sha256`
- `code_sha256`
- `runtime`
- `runner`
- `orchestrator`
- `created_at`
Optional fields include dataset hashes/references and command/task/pipeline hashes.
### Language bindings
#### Rust
The crate lives at the repo root with sources under `src/rust/lib.rs`.
```rust
use monarchic_agent_protocol::{AgentRole, Task, PROTOCOL_VERSION};
let task = Task {
version: PROTOCOL_VERSION.to_string(),
task_id: "task-123".to_string(),
role: AgentRole::Dev as i32,
goal: "Implement protocol".to_string(),
inputs: None,
constraints: None,
gates_required: Vec::new(),
run_context: None,
extensions: Default::default(),
};
```
#### TypeScript
TypeScript bindings are in `src/ts/index.ts`.
```ts
import { Task } from "./src/ts/index";
const task: Task = {
version: "v1",
task_id: "task-123",
role: "dev",
goal: "Implement protocol",
};
```
#### Go
Go module sources live under `src/go` with module path:
```
github.com/monarchic-ai/monarchic-agent-protocol/src/go
```
#### Protobuf
The v1 protobuf schema lives at `schemas/v1/monarchic_agent_protocol.proto`. It mirrors the JSON schema and uses `google.protobuf.Struct` for free-form objects (`inputs`, `constraints`, `evidence`, `extensions`). Additional JSON properties should be stored in the `extensions` field on each message.
Language packages are published per registry. Use the registry package for your language instead of generating local outputs.
#### Python (PyPI)
Install the published package and import the generated protobuf bindings:
```python
from monarchic_agent_protocol import monarchic_agent_protocol_pb2 as map_pb2
```
#### Ruby
Ruby bindings live under `src/ruby`.
#### Java/Kotlin
Java/Kotlin sources live under `src/java`.
#### C#
C# sources live under `src/csharp`.
#### PHP
PHP sources live under `src/php`.
#### Dart
Dart sources live under `src/dart`.
## Contributing
### Tooling
- `nix develop` provides Rust, Node, jq, Python `jsonschema`, and `protoc`.
- `nix flake check` validates JSON schemas, protobuf codegen, and package imports (PyPI + Rust + npm + Go).
- JSON Schema test: `scripts/test-json-schema.sh`.
- Pre-commit schema JSON parse check: `scripts/pre-commit-schema-json-parse.sh`.
- Pre-commit schema parse smoke test: `scripts/test-pre-commit-schema-json-parse.sh`.
- Schema edit changelog: `schemas/SCHEMA_CHANGELOG.md`.
- Schema changelog format test: `scripts/test-schema-changelog-format.sh`.
- README schema index coverage test: `scripts/test-readme-schema-index-coverage.sh`.
- Protobuf codegen test (all languages): `scripts/test-proto.sh`.
- Protobuf availability smoke test: `scripts/test-proto-availability-smoke.sh`.
- Protobuf codegen (write to `src/<lang>`): `scripts/generate-proto.sh`.
- Protobuf codegen (write to `src/<lang>` and regenerate JSON schemas): `scripts/generate-proto.sh`.
- JSON Schema regeneration only: `scripts/generate-json-schema.sh`.
- JSON Schema generation requires `protoc-gen-jsonschema` (install with `go install github.com/chrusty/protoc-gen-jsonschema/cmd/protoc-gen-jsonschema@latest`).
Use the Nix apps (preferred) or the scripts directly:
- `nix run .#generate-proto` (`scripts/generate-proto.sh`): regenerate protobuf outputs into `src/<lang>`.
- `nix run .#generate-json-schema` (`scripts/generate-json-schema.sh`): regenerate JSON Schemas from the protobuf source.
- `nix run .#update-local-hashes` (`scripts/update-local-hashes.sh`): refresh hashes for local build inputs.
- `nix run .#update-version -- <version>` (`scripts/update-version.sh`): bump version across manifests and tags (expects `vX.Y.Z` input).
- `nix run .#update-registry-hashes` (`scripts/update-registry-hashes.sh`): refresh hashes for published registries (npm, crates, PyPI, RubyGems, NuGet, JitPack, GitHub source).
For every schema change, generate protobuf outputs and update local hashes.
For every release, tag the commit, update versions, push, and update registry hashes *after pushing*.
### Schema validation workflow
1. Run full schema lint and semantic checks: `bash scripts/lint-schemas.sh`.
2. Run direct schema fixture checks: `bash scripts/test-json-schema.sh`.
3. Validate staged schema JSON before commit: `bash scripts/pre-commit-schema-json-parse.sh`.
4. Verify pre-commit checker behavior is deterministic: `bash scripts/test-pre-commit-schema-json-parse.sh`.
5. Verify schema changelog entry format: `bash scripts/test-schema-changelog-format.sh`.
6. Verify README schema index coverage stays aligned: `bash scripts/test-readme-schema-index-coverage.sh`.
### Nix packages
- `packages.default`: Rust crate for protocol types
- `packages.rs-lib`: Rust crate for protocol types (local)
- `packages.rs-registry-lib`: Rust crate from crates.io (registry)
- `packages.py-lib`: installable Python package (local)
- `packages.py-registry-lib`: PyPI package (registry)
- `packages.ts-lib`: TypeScript types package (local)
- `packages.ts-registry-lib`: npm registry package (types-only)
- `packages.go-lib`: Go module (local)
- `packages.go-registry-lib`: Go module from GitHub (registry)
- `packages.rb-lib`: Ruby gem (local)
- `packages.rb-registry-lib`: Ruby gem from RubyGems (registry)
- `packages.java-lib`: Java/Kotlin jar (local)
- `packages.java-registry-lib`: Java/Kotlin jar from JitPack (registry)
- `packages.dart-lib`: Dart package (local)
- `packages.dart-registry-lib`: Dart package from pub.dev (registry)
- `packages.csharp-lib`: C# package sources (local)
- `packages.csharp-registry-lib`: C# package from NuGet (registry)
- `packages.php-lib`: PHP package sources (local)
- `packages.php-registry-lib`: PHP package from Packagist (registry)
### CI and releases
- `.github/workflows/ci.yml` validates JSON schemas, protobuf codegen, and runs `cargo test`.
- `.github/workflows/release.yml` publishes language packages.
- Python publishing is implemented for PyPI; other language registry steps are scaffolded.
## License
LGPL-3.0-only