# DEMANDS.md - User Demand System

**Authority:** routing (demand system entrypoint)
**Layer:** Interfaces
**Binding:** Yes
**Scope:** where user demands live and how agents must consume them
**Non-goals:** redefining demand schema fields inline

User demands are explicit human constraints that override default agent behavior.

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## 1. Agent Obligation

Before meaningful execution, agents MUST:
1. Resolve active demand set.
2. Apply precedence rules deterministically.
3. Report any demand that changes execution strategy.

Ignoring active demands is a contract violation.

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## 2. Schema Owner

Demand record schema, key typing, precedence, and validation rules are defined in:
- `interfaces/DEMANDS_SCHEMA.md`

This file routes and enforces usage; schema evolution occurs in the interface contract.

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## 3. Validation

`decapod validate` is the proof gate for demand integrity.

At minimum, validation checks:
- key/type conformance
- deterministic precedence resolution
- expiration handling

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## Links

### Core Router
- [core/DECAPOD.md](core/DECAPOD.md) - **Router and navigation charter (START HERE)**

### Authority (Constitution Layer)
- [specs/INTENT.md](specs/INTENT.md) - **Methodology contract (READ FIRST)**
- [specs/SYSTEM.md](specs/SYSTEM.md) - System definition and authority doctrine
- [specs/SECURITY.md](specs/SECURITY.md) - Security contract
- [specs/GIT.md](specs/GIT.md) - Git etiquette contract
- [specs/AMENDMENTS.md](specs/AMENDMENTS.md) - Change control

### Registry (Core Indices)
- [core/PLUGINS.md](core/PLUGINS.md) - Subsystem registry
- [core/INTERFACES.md](core/INTERFACES.md) - Interface contracts index
- [core/METHODOLOGY.md](core/METHODOLOGY.md) - Methodology guides index

### Contracts (Interfaces Layer)
- [interfaces/DEMANDS_SCHEMA.md](interfaces/DEMANDS_SCHEMA.md) - Binding demand schema
- [interfaces/CONTROL_PLANE.md](interfaces/CONTROL_PLANE.md) - Sequencing patterns
- [interfaces/DOC_RULES.md](interfaces/DOC_RULES.md) - Doc compilation rules
- [interfaces/GLOSSARY.md](interfaces/GLOSSARY.md) - Term definitions

### Operations (Plugins Layer)
- [plugins/TODO.md](plugins/TODO.md) - Work tracking
- [plugins/VERIFY.md](plugins/VERIFY.md) - Validation subsystem
