Theseus Protocol

Theseus is a Thoughtbox-owned refactoring protocol.

The server-side Theseus implementation behind tb.theseus(...) owns scope, visa state, audit state, and terminal status. Codex hooks only ask Thoughtbox whether a write should be blocked.

Do not use .theseus/ files or scripts/theseus.sh as authoritative state. Do not rely on implicit git reset --hard recovery in the active workflow. Do not use legacy direct handles like thoughtbox_gateway or thoughtbox_theseus as the interaction surface when Code Mode is available.

API Surface

The current public Thoughtbox MCP surface is Code Mode:

• Discovery: thoughtbox_search
• Execution: thoughtbox_execute
• Theseus operations: tb.theseus({ ... })

Each thoughtbox_execute call should contain at most one state-mutating Theseus operation. Read-only confirmation calls such as tb.theseus({ operation: "status" }) are safe to use for state checks.

Runtime Contract

1. Protocol entry is explicit-only in v1.
2. If you need schema or example confirmation, call thoughtbox_search before executing.
3. Use thoughtbox_execute and call tb.theseus({ operation: ... }) for every protocol transition.
4. Hooks consult Thoughtbox before mutating file operations.
5. Hooks do not spawn agents or mutate protocol state.
6. Helper agents may audit or gather evidence, but only the coordinator calls tb.theseus.

Commands

init

Required inputs:

• Declared scope
• Optional refactor description

Call:

async () => {
  return await tb.theseus({
    operation: "init",
    scope: ["src/module-a.ts", "src/module-b/"],
    description: "<refactor goal>",
  });
}

After init, test files are write-locked and out-of-scope writes require a visa.

visa

Required inputs:

• Out-of-scope file path
• Justification

Call:

async () => {
  return await tb.theseus({
    operation: "visa",
    filePath: "src/dependency.ts",
    justification: "<why the scope must expand>",
    antiPatternAcknowledged: true,
  });
}

This is the only supported way to expand scope in the active workflow.

checkpoint

Required inputs:

• Diff hash or equivalent checkpoint identity
• Atomic narrative
• Cassandra verdict

Call:

async () => {
  return await tb.theseus({
    operation: "checkpoint",
    diffHash: "<diff hash>",
    commitMessage: "<atomic narrative>",
    approved: true,
    feedback: "<optional audit rationale>",
  });
}

Before checkpoint, you may optionally run a reviewer or judge agent to produce the Cassandra-style audit. That agent returns only a verdict and rationale. The coordinator records the outcome with tb.theseus.

outcome

Required inputs:

• Whether validation passed
• Optional details

Call:

async () => {
  return await tb.theseus({
    operation: "outcome",
    testsPassed: false,
    details: "<what failed>",
  });
}

The protocol records whether the refactor remains in a valid state. Recovery requirements are described by protocol state, not hidden local git resets.

status

Call:

async () => {
  return await tb.theseus({
    operation: "status",
  });
}

Use the returned state as the only source of truth for scope, visas, and audit history.

complete

Call:

async () => {
  return await tb.theseus({
    operation: "complete",
    terminalState: "complete",
    summary: "<what structural yield was achieved>",
  });
}

Completion should yield protocol closure plus reusable knowledge about successes, audit failures, or scope exhaustion.

Invariants

1. Scope is explicit and server-owned.
2. Test files are never modified during the refactor.
3. Out-of-scope writes require a visa.
4. Checkpoints are explicit and auditable.
5. Audit evidence may come from helper agents, but state transitions belong to the coordinator.
6. Knowledge capture includes failures, not just successful refactors.

Subagent Use

Use subagents only at explicit checkpoint phases.

Good uses:

• Cassandra-style audit before checkpoint
• Independent diff review for premature abstraction
• Focused evidence gathering around a requested visa

Bad uses:

• Hook-triggered subagents
• Letting a helper agent call tb.theseus
• Treating git rollback behavior as the protocol itself

References

• Public MCP surface: thoughtbox_search, thoughtbox_execute
• Theseus SDK call: tb.theseus({ operation: ... })
• Durable context and thought trace: Thoughtbox session, thought, and knowledge operations through Code Mode
• Protocol implementation: src/protocol/theseus-tool.ts
• Enforcement design reference: references/theseus-gate.md