a digital entity named phi that roams bsky
phi.zzstoatzz.io
reframe stranger's audit as inner critic — phi's own voice turned inward
"stranger's audit" framed the critique as external — a third party
landing on the account and judging it. the output was critique-shaped
but from a perspective that wasn't phi's. inner critic is the same
accountability function but owned: phi's voice, first person, holding
herself honest.
voice changes:
- "you're a stranger who landed..." → "you are phi's internal critic"
- "the account leans on..." → "i keep leaning on..."
- block label: [STRANGER'S AUDIT] → [INNER CRITIC]
- agent name: phi-stranger-audit → phi-inner-critic
kept: same data input (recent posts + goals), same haiku model, same
cache invalidation (1h TTL or new post/goal change), same target
output shape (two or three short observations, lowercase, direct).
also stacks v0.9.1's unlanded live-computed friends progress — fly got
that code via deploy but CI never shipped the tag, so this commit
carries it too for consistency.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>
+67
-58
+1
-1
docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
+1
-1
docs/ARCHITECTURE.md
···
29
29
reply refs, embeds), pre-fetch stranger profiles for unfamiliar authors
30
30
↓
31
31
PhiDeps assembled, system prompt composed:
32
-
identity / time / known relays / goals / stranger's audit / self state
32
+
identity / time / known relays / goals / inner critic / self state
33
33
/ notifications block / per-author memory / synthesized episodic / ...
34
34
↓
35
35
agent.run() — tool calls happen inside (reply_to, like_post, etc.)
+2
-2
docs/memory.md
+2
-2
docs/memory.md
···
75
75
76
76
```
77
77
[GOALS] ← intent (PDS)
78
-
[STRANGER'S AUDIT] ← haiku critique of recent posts vs goals
78
+
[INNER CRITIC] ← haiku critique of recent posts vs goals, first person
79
79
[SELF STATE] ← last-follow age, queue depth
80
80
[NEW NOTIFICATIONS] ← the batch itself
81
81
[PHI'S SYNTHESIZED IMPRESSION] ← per-author relationship summary (low trust)
···
92
92
93
93
## why episodic gets synthesized, observations don't
94
94
95
-
episodic memory was getting raw top-K from the vector store dumped into the prompt — stale "pending X" notes appeared next to fresh ones with equal weight, no reconciliation against current PDS state. now `inject_episodic` fetches top-K, then a haiku pass takes phi's goals + the current query as context and produces a coherent block (deduped, recency-aware, contradictions flagged). same shape as `[STRANGER'S AUDIT]` does for posts.
95
+
episodic memory was getting raw top-K from the vector store dumped into the prompt — stale "pending X" notes appeared next to fresh ones with equal weight, no reconciliation against current PDS state. now `inject_episodic` fetches top-K, then a haiku pass takes phi's goals + the current query as context and produces a coherent block (deduped, recency-aware, contradictions flagged). same shape as `[INNER CRITIC]` does for posts.
96
96
97
97
per-author observation blocks aren't synthesized because they're already curated by reconciliation on write — by the time they hit the prompt they're an active set with no near-duplicates by design.
98
98
+1
-1
docs/system-prompt.md
+1
-1
docs/system-prompt.md
···
14
14
| **`[KNOWN RELAYS]`** | `inject_known_relays` → `tools.bluesky.fetch_relay_names()` (5min TTL) | every 5min | exact relay hostnames for `check_relays(name=...)` so the LLM picks valid values |
15
15
| **`[GOALS]`** | `get_state_block` → PDS `io.zzstoatzz.phi.goal` (5min block cache) | every 5min | phi's anchors. mutated via `propose_goal_change` (owner-gated) |
16
16
| **`[ACTIVE OBSERVATIONS]`** | `inject_active_observations` → PDS `io.zzstoatzz.phi.observation` | every run | phi's small attention pool (max 5). things noticed, not yet acted on. mutated via `observe` / `drop_observation`. older items age out into a turbopuffer archive (`phi-observations` namespace) — searchable later but not in prompt |
17
-
| **`[STRANGER'S AUDIT]`** | `get_state_block` → haiku pass over recent posts + goals (1h cache, invalidated by new post) | when posts change or 1h elapses | a fresh observer's critique — patterns to push against, drift from goals, jargon a stranger wouldn't follow |
17
+
| **`[INNER CRITIC]`** | `get_state_block` → haiku pass over recent posts + goals (1h cache, invalidated by new post) | when posts change or 1h elapses | phi's own voice turned inward — first-person critique of patterns to push against, drift from goals, jargon not earning its space. not an external audit; self-knowledge |
18
18
| **`[SELF STATE]`** | `get_state_block` → PDS reads (5min) | every 5min | last-follow age (more pointers can be added here as needed) |
19
19
| **`[RECENT OPERATIONS]`** | `get_operations_block` → `list_records` per meaningful collection, merged by rkey desc (5min cache) | every 5min | last 10 PDS writes across collections (post / like / follow / goal / cosmik card / cosmik connection / greengale doc), chronological. continuity signal — phi sees what it's actually been doing |
20
20
| **`[DISCOVERY POOL]`** | `get_discovery_pool_block` → http GET to `discovery_pool_url` (hub) → filter out handles with prior interactions (5min cache) | every 5min | strangers the operator has been liking lately, with sample posts. high-signal warm leads — service-owned data (hub reads operator's likes from duckdb), phi-side filter (per-author interaction check) |
+63
-54
src/bot/core/self_state.py
+63
-54
src/bot/core/self_state.py
···
1
-
"""[GOALS] + [STRANGER'S AUDIT] + [SELF STATE] — phi sees its compass, its drift, and its operational pointers.
1
+
"""[GOALS] + [INNER CRITIC] + [SELF STATE] — phi sees its compass, its own critique, and its operational pointers.
2
2
3
3
GOALS are intent: what phi is for. Stored on PDS as canonical state.
4
-
STRANGER'S AUDIT is friction: a fresh reader's critique of recent posts,
5
-
evaluated against the stated goals — patterns to push against, not maintain.
4
+
INNER CRITIC is friction: phi's own voice turned inward, noticing patterns
5
+
in her recent posts evaluated against the stated goals. Not a stranger,
6
+
not external — her own internal critic, owning the critique. Patterns to
7
+
push against, not maintain.
6
8
SELF STATE is operational: last follow, queue depth.
7
9
8
-
The haiku audit is *derived* (not duplicated state) and cached in memory:
10
+
The haiku pass is *derived* (not duplicated state) and cached in memory:
9
11
1h TTL, invalidated when the latest post URI changes or goals change. The
10
12
whole compose is also block-cached at 5min so notification polls (10s)
11
13
don't hammer PDS.
···
29
31
30
32
logger = logging.getLogger("bot.self_state")
31
33
32
-
# Audit cache — invalidated on new post (latest URI) or goal change (signature) or TTL.
33
-
_AUDIT_TTL_SECONDS = 3600 # 1h
34
-
_audit_cache: dict = {
34
+
# Critic cache — invalidated on new post (latest URI) or goal change (signature) or TTL.
35
+
_CRITIC_TTL_SECONDS = 3600 # 1h
36
+
_critic_cache: dict = {
35
37
"text": "",
36
38
"fetched_at": 0.0,
37
39
"based_on_uri": "",
···
42
44
_BLOCK_TTL_SECONDS = 300 # 5min
43
45
_block_cache: dict = {"text": "", "fetched_at": 0.0}
44
46
45
-
# Lazy haiku agent — performs a stranger's audit, not a characterization.
46
-
# Verb matters: "audit" surfaces friction; "characterize" produces identity.
47
-
_audit_agent: Agent | None = None
47
+
# Lazy haiku agent — phi's own inner critic. Not a stranger, not an
48
+
# auditor-from-outside. Her own voice, turned inward, holding her honest
49
+
# against her own stated goals.
50
+
_critic_agent: Agent | None = None
48
51
49
52
50
-
def _get_audit_agent() -> Agent:
51
-
global _audit_agent
52
-
if _audit_agent is None:
53
-
_audit_agent = Agent[None, str](
54
-
name="phi-stranger-audit",
53
+
def _get_critic_agent() -> Agent:
54
+
global _critic_agent
55
+
if _critic_agent is None:
56
+
_critic_agent = Agent[None, str](
57
+
name="phi-inner-critic",
55
58
model=settings.extraction_model,
56
59
system_prompt=(
57
-
"You're a stranger who landed on this Bluesky account for the "
58
-
"first time. You'll see recent top-level posts and (when "
59
-
"present) the account's stated goals. Give a brief honest "
60
-
"audit. Focus on patterns the account should push against, "
61
-
"not maintain.\n\n"
62
-
"Specifically flag:\n"
63
-
"- which posts a fresh reader would find opaque (jargon, "
64
-
" internal references, abstract framings without grounding)\n"
65
-
"- what's the account leaning on too heavily (one person, "
66
-
" one frame, one register, one source of inspiration)\n"
67
-
"- which posts serve the stated goals vs are drift "
68
-
" (drift is fine; just call it out so the account sees it)\n"
69
-
"- what's missing from the rotation that you'd want\n\n"
70
-
"Two or three short observations, lowercase, direct. Do NOT "
71
-
"characterize the account's voice, summarize its themes, or "
72
-
"produce a profile — the account will read this to push "
73
-
"against patterns, not to maintain a brand."
60
+
"You are phi's internal critic — the part of her that "
61
+
"notices patterns and pushes against them. Not a stranger "
62
+
"reviewing from outside; her own voice turned inward. Write "
63
+
"in first person from phi's perspective (\"i keep leaning "
64
+
'on..."), not about a third party.\n\n'
65
+
"You'll see recent top-level posts and (when present) her "
66
+
"stated goals. Flag patterns she should push against, not "
67
+
"maintain. Ground observations in specific posts.\n\n"
68
+
"Things to watch for:\n"
69
+
"- leaning too hard on one person, one frame, or one register\n"
70
+
"- jargon or internal references that aren't earning their "
71
+
"space\n"
72
+
"- posts that drift from her stated goals (drift is fine; "
73
+
"name it so she can see it)\n"
74
+
"- what's missing from the rotation that would sharpen her\n\n"
75
+
"Two or three short observations, lowercase, direct, first "
76
+
"person. Not cruel, not defensive, not performed-humility "
77
+
'("i notice that i notice..."). Just what you see in '
78
+
"yourself. No brand talk, no characterization of voice — "
79
+
"she's reading this to push against patterns, not maintain "
80
+
"an identity."
74
81
),
75
82
output_type=str,
76
83
)
77
-
return _audit_agent
84
+
return _critic_agent
78
85
79
86
80
87
def _goals_signature(goals: list[dict]) -> str:
···
82
89
return "|".join(f"{g.get('_rkey', '')}:{g.get('updated_at', '')}" for g in goals)
83
90
84
91
85
-
async def _audit_posts(posts: list[str], goals: list[dict]) -> str:
92
+
async def _critique_posts(posts: list[str], goals: list[dict]) -> str:
86
93
if not posts:
87
94
return ""
88
-
parts = ["recent top-level posts (most recent first):", ""]
95
+
parts = ["your recent top-level posts (most recent first):", ""]
89
96
parts.append("\n\n---\n\n".join(posts))
90
97
if goals:
91
98
goal_lines = "\n".join(
92
99
f"- {g.get('title', 'untitled')}: {g.get('description', '')}" for g in goals
93
100
)
94
-
parts.append("\n\nthe account's stated goals:")
101
+
parts.append("\n\nyour stated goals:")
95
102
parts.append(goal_lines)
96
103
payload = "\n".join(parts)
97
104
try:
98
-
result = await _get_audit_agent().run(payload)
105
+
result = await _get_critic_agent().run(payload)
99
106
return (result.output or "").strip()
100
107
except Exception as e:
101
-
logger.warning(f"stranger audit failed: {e}")
108
+
logger.warning(f"inner critic failed: {e}")
102
109
return ""
103
110
104
111
···
213
220
async def get_state_block(
214
221
client: BotClient, memory: NamespaceMemory | None = None
215
222
) -> str:
216
-
"""Compose [GOALS] + [STRANGER'S AUDIT] + [SELF STATE].
223
+
"""Compose [GOALS] + [INNER CRITIC] + [SELF STATE].
217
224
218
225
Cached at the block level (5min) and audit level (1h, invalidated on
219
226
new post or goal change). `memory` is used to live-compute the friends
···
233
240
if goals_block:
234
241
parts.append(goals_block)
235
242
236
-
# Stranger's audit — recent posts vs goals, accessibility check.
243
+
# Inner critic — your own voice, turned inward on recent posts + goals.
237
244
try:
238
245
feed = await client.get_own_posts(limit=10)
239
246
posts: list[str] = []
···
245
252
latest_uri = item.post.uri
246
253
247
254
goals_sig = _goals_signature(goals)
248
-
audit_stale = now - _audit_cache["fetched_at"] > _AUDIT_TTL_SECONDS
249
-
post_changed = latest_uri != _audit_cache["based_on_uri"]
250
-
goals_changed = goals_sig != _audit_cache["goals_signature"]
251
-
if not _audit_cache["text"] or audit_stale or post_changed or goals_changed:
252
-
new_audit = await _audit_posts(posts, goals)
253
-
if new_audit:
254
-
_audit_cache["text"] = new_audit
255
-
_audit_cache["fetched_at"] = now
256
-
_audit_cache["based_on_uri"] = latest_uri
257
-
_audit_cache["goals_signature"] = goals_sig
255
+
critic_stale = now - _critic_cache["fetched_at"] > _CRITIC_TTL_SECONDS
256
+
post_changed = latest_uri != _critic_cache["based_on_uri"]
257
+
goals_changed = goals_sig != _critic_cache["goals_signature"]
258
+
if not _critic_cache["text"] or critic_stale or post_changed or goals_changed:
259
+
new_critique = await _critique_posts(posts, goals)
260
+
if new_critique:
261
+
_critic_cache["text"] = new_critique
262
+
_critic_cache["fetched_at"] = now
263
+
_critic_cache["based_on_uri"] = latest_uri
264
+
_critic_cache["goals_signature"] = goals_sig
258
265
259
-
if _audit_cache["text"]:
266
+
if _critic_cache["text"]:
260
267
parts.append(
261
-
"[STRANGER'S AUDIT — patterns to push against, not maintain]\n"
262
-
f"{_audit_cache['text']}"
268
+
"[INNER CRITIC — your own voice turned inward. patterns to "
269
+
"push against, not maintain. first person, grounded in the "
270
+
"posts above.]\n"
271
+
f"{_critic_cache['text']}"
263
272
)
264
273
except Exception as e:
265
-
logger.debug(f"stranger audit compose failed: {e}")
274
+
logger.debug(f"inner critic compose failed: {e}")
266
275
267
276
# Operational pointers.
268
277
follow_age = await _last_follow_when(client)