Trait Agent 

pub trait Agent:
    Digest
    + Apoptose
    + Sense {
    // Required methods
    fn id(&self) -> AgentId;
    fn position(&self) -> Position;
    fn set_position(&mut self, position: Position);
    fn agent_type(&self) -> &str;
    fn tick(&mut self, substrate: &dyn Substrate) -> AgentAction;
    fn age(&self) -> u64;

    // Provided methods
    fn export_vocabulary(&self) -> Option<Vec<u8>> { ... }
    fn integrate_vocabulary(&mut self, _data: &[u8]) -> bool { ... }
    fn profile(&self) -> AgentProfile { ... }
    fn evaluate_symbiosis(&self, _other: &AgentProfile) -> Option<SymbiosisEval> { ... }
    fn absorb_symbiont(
        &mut self,
        _profile: AgentProfile,
        _data: Vec<u8>,
    ) -> bool { ... }
    fn permeability(&self) -> f64 { ... }
    fn modulate_boundary(&mut self, _context: &BoundaryContext) { ... }
    fn externalize_vocabulary(&self) -> Vec<String> { ... }
    fn internalize_vocabulary(&mut self, _terms: &[String]) { ... }
    fn vocabulary_size(&self) -> usize { ... }
}

The fundamental unit of computation in Phago — a biological cell.

Every agent must be able to:

• Digest input (consume, break down, present fragments)
• Apoptose (self-assess health, gracefully die when compromised)
• Sense the substrate (detect signals, follow gradients)

Additional biological capabilities (Wire, Transfer, Emerge, etc.) are opt-in through additional trait implementations.

Required Methods

fn id(&self) -> AgentId

The agent’s unique identity.

fn position(&self) -> Position

The agent’s current position in the substrate.

fn set_position(&mut self, position: Position)

Set the agent’s position.

fn agent_type(&self) -> &str

The agent’s type name (for display and logging).

fn tick(&mut self, substrate: &dyn Substrate) -> AgentAction

Execute one tick of the agent’s lifecycle.

This is the main loop body. Each tick, the agent:

1. Senses the environment
2. Decides what to do
3. Returns an action for the runtime to execute

The runtime calls this once per simulation tick.

fn age(&self) -> u64

How many ticks this agent has been alive.

Provided Methods

fn export_vocabulary(&self) -> Option<Vec<u8>>

Export this agent’s vocabulary as serialized bytes. Returns None if the agent has no vocabulary to export.

fn integrate_vocabulary(&mut self, _data: &[u8]) -> bool

Integrate foreign vocabulary from serialized bytes. Returns true if integration succeeded.

fn profile(&self) -> AgentProfile

Build a profile describing this agent’s capabilities.

fn evaluate_symbiosis(&self, _other: &AgentProfile) -> Option<SymbiosisEval>

Evaluate whether to absorb another agent as a symbiont.

fn absorb_symbiont(&mut self, _profile: AgentProfile, _data: Vec<u8>) -> bool

Absorb another agent’s profile and vocabulary data as a symbiont. Returns true if absorption succeeded.

fn permeability(&self) -> f64

Current boundary permeability (0.0 = rigid, 1.0 = fully dissolved).

fn modulate_boundary(&mut self, _context: &BoundaryContext)

Adjust boundary permeability based on environmental context.

fn externalize_vocabulary(&self) -> Vec<String>

Return vocabulary terms to externalize (reinforce in the substrate).

fn internalize_vocabulary(&mut self, _terms: &[String])

Absorb nearby concept terms from the substrate.

fn vocabulary_size(&self) -> usize

Return the size of this agent’s vocabulary (for metrics).

Implementors

impl Agent for Digester

impl Agent for Sentinel

impl Agent for Synthesizer