flowchart TD
  UserGoal["User goal / unresolved problem"]
  DesignTool["design tool
clarify scope, critique graph, produce questions"]
  QuestionTool["question tool
turn uncertainty into research questions"]
  ResearchTool["research tool
collect sources, evidence, candidates"]
  PlannerTool["planner tool
manage problem DAG and options"]
  GovernanceTool["governance tool
validate contracts and legal transitions"]
  Executor["executor / implementation orchestrator
materialize attempts and run ERA loop"]

  ProblemNode["problem_node
manageable project problem
not executable"]
  ResearchQuestion["research_question_packet
what must be answered"]
  Evidence["evidence_refs / research packets
sources and support"]
  NodeOption["node_option[]
possible approaches
not executable"]
  SelectedOption["selected node_option
chosen approach"]
  ExecutionUnit["execution_unit
first buildable work contract"]

  CandidatePatchManifest["candidate_patch_manifest
artifact-backed patch candidate set"]
  CandidatePatch["candidate_patch[]
patch_ref + metadata + candidate blockers"]
  ImplementationAttempt["implementation_attempt[]
patch-bearing candidate implementation"]
  AttemptEvaluation["attempt_evaluation[]
tool/evidence-backed attempt result"]
  AttemptSelection["attempt_selection
deterministic winner selection"]
  SolutionArtifact["solution_artifact
selected attempt + completion evidence"]
  AppliedSolution["applied_solution
isolated apply + post-apply validation"]
  Feedback["feedback / follow-up refs
new problems, risks, or next nodes"]

  UserGoal --> DesignTool
  DesignTool --> ProblemNode
  ProblemNode --> QuestionTool
  QuestionTool --> ResearchQuestion
  ResearchQuestion --> ResearchTool
  ResearchTool --> Evidence
  Evidence --> PlannerTool
  PlannerTool --> NodeOption
  NodeOption --> SelectedOption
  SelectedOption --> GovernanceTool
  GovernanceTool --> ExecutionUnit

  ExecutionUnit --> Executor
  Executor --> CandidatePatchManifest
  CandidatePatchManifest --> CandidatePatch
  CandidatePatch --> ImplementationAttempt
  ImplementationAttempt --> AttemptEvaluation
  AttemptEvaluation --> AttemptSelection
  AttemptSelection --> SolutionArtifact
  SolutionArtifact --> AppliedSolution
  AppliedSolution --> Feedback
  Feedback --> ProblemNode

  GovernanceTool -. "contract checks" .-> ProblemNode
  GovernanceTool -. "readiness gates" .-> NodeOption
  GovernanceTool -. "execution-unit legality" .-> ExecutionUnit
  GovernanceTool -. "attempt/evaluation/selection contracts" .-> AttemptEvaluation
  GovernanceTool -. "apply policy" .-> AppliedSolution

  classDef problem fill:#f8f1dc,stroke:#8a6d1d,color:#1f1a10;
  classDef research fill:#dff3ef,stroke:#287463,color:#0d241f;
  classDef plan fill:#e4edff,stroke:#355d9e,color:#0c1c36;
  classDef exec fill:#fce4df,stroke:#a04735,color:#32100b;
  classDef gov fill:#eee5ff,stroke:#6543a6,color:#1d1038;
  classDef terminal fill:#e8f5dc,stroke:#4f7d25,color:#14230a;

  class UserGoal,ProblemNode,Feedback problem;
  class QuestionTool,ResearchQuestion,ResearchTool,Evidence research;
  class PlannerTool,NodeOption,SelectedOption,ExecutionUnit plan;
  class Executor,CandidatePatchManifest,CandidatePatch,ImplementationAttempt,AttemptEvaluation,AttemptSelection,SolutionArtifact exec;
  class DesignTool,GovernanceTool gov;
  class AppliedSolution terminal;