Versioning & Continuity Policy

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Decision Environments treats meaning as a first-class artifact.
Definitions, distinctions, and boundaries on this site may evolve, but they do not change silently.

Versioning Principles

  1. Definitions are versioned, not overwritten
    When a definition changes in substance, a new version is issued. Prior versions remain accessible or referenced.
  2. Clarifications are logged
    Clarifications that do not alter meaning are noted with dates but do not require a version increment.
  3. Changes are explicit
    When a change is made, what changed and why is stated plainly. No revision relies on implication.
  4. Continuity is preserved
    Language may be refined, but the conceptual spine is maintained. If continuity breaks, it is named.
  5. Trace matters more than formality
    The goal is not compliance, but intelligibility over time.

What Triggers a New Version

A new version is created when any of the following occur:

  • A core definition is substantively revised
  • A key boundary is added, removed, or reinterpreted
  • The scope of the concept expands or contracts
  • A term is deprecated or replaced

Minor edits for clarity, grammar, or formatting do not trigger a new version.


How Versions Are Noted

Each version includes:

  • Version identifier (e.g., v1.0, v1.1)
  • Effective date
  • Summary of change (1–3 sentences)
  • Continuity note (what remains unchanged, if relevant)

Version notes are concise and factual. They describe changes without justification or persuasion.


Where Version Information Appears

  • The current version is displayed on the relevant page
  • A Versions page maintains a running log of changes
  • Major changes may be referenced inline where definitions appear

No content is updated without a corresponding note when meaning is affected.


What This Policy Is Not

This policy is not:

  • a release cadence
  • a roadmap
  • a governance process
  • a promise of stability

It exists to ensure that readers can understand what was meant, when, and how that meaning has evolved.


Guiding Principle

Meaning should not change without trace.


Version History

VersionEffective DateChange TypeSummary of ChangesContinuity Notes
v1.02026-02-01Initial DefinitionFormalized the concept of Decision Environments, including core definition, scope, and the Decision Continuum.Establishes baseline terminology and boundaries.