What Is L2?
The Standards Form defines how consistency is maintained within the G01DN system. It ensures that equivalent structures remain equivalent across time.
Where Constitutional Form defines what may exist, and Protocol Form defines how structures interact, Standards Form defines how structural coherence is preserved.
Core Function
- Defines consistency requirements across the system
- Prevents structural drift over time
- Maintains coherence between related structures
- Supports repeatable validation and governance
Principle
Standards do not define existence.
Standards do not define interaction.
Standards define the conditions required for consistency.
How Standards Operate
Standards sit below Protocol and above Reference within the G01DN hierarchy. Their purpose is to ensure that structural intent is expressed consistently wherever it appears.
They provide the stabilising rules that allow systems, documents, specifications, and implementations to remain aligned as the architecture evolves.
What Standards May Govern
Standards may define consistency requirements for naming, classification, formatting, documentation, validation, versioning, intellectual property, and other architectural conventions.
These domains support consistency, but are not the purpose of the layer itself.
Key Principle
A structure may satisfy Constitutional and Protocol requirements while still failing Standards compliance.
Constitutional determines whether something may exist. Protocol determines how it interacts. Standards determine whether it remains coherent.
Navigation Map
- G01DN → Structural governance engine
- Constitutional → Existence rules (L0)
- Protocol → Interaction rules (L1)
- Standards → Consistency rules (L2)
- Reference → Human-readable representation (L3)