project	Cortex
component	Docs
phase	Design
date_created	2026-02-11 13:01:46 -0800
source	ServerProjectsMac
librarian_indexed	2026-02-11 14:46:24 -0800

Cortex Monorepo

Emulate the human brain's thinking processes through simulated cognitive modules.

Structure

cortex/
├── core/           CortexBrain engine (20 cognitive lobes, AutoLLM, A2A server)
├── apps/           Plugin applications that snap onto CortexBrain
│   └── _template/  Scaffold for new plugins
├── docs/
│   ├── adr/        Architecture Decision Records
│   ├── rfc/        Requests for Comments
│   └── architecture/  System diagrams and overviews
├── research/       Dated research notes (evaluations, benchmarks, prototypes)
├── scripts/        Automation scripts
├── tools/          Internal tooling
├── archive/        Deprecated projects
└── .github/        CI/CD workflows

Quick Start

# Build everything
make build

# Test everything
make test

# Build CortexBrain binary
make brain

# Scaffold a new plugin
make new-app NAME=cortex-your-name

# Create a new ADR
make new-adr TITLE="your decision title"

# See all commands
make help

First Principles

Every decision must pass these inviolable constraints:

1. Single Binary — CortexBrain ships as one executable
2. Apple Silicon Primary — Optimized for M-series chips
3. Local-First Privacy — No data leaves the machine without consent
4. Go Only (core) — Core engine is pure Go; apps may use other languages
5. Memory < 500MB — Total runtime memory budget

Dependency Rules

✅  apps/*  →  core/              (allowed)
✅  apps/*  →  apps/cortex-lab    (allowed — shared kernel)
✅  apps/*  →  external libs      (allowed, ADR for significant deps)
❌  apps/*  →  apps/other-app     (never — use A2A protocol)
❌  core/   →  apps/*             (never)

Documentation

• Architecture Decisions: docs/adr/
• Research Notes: research/
• Contributing: See CONTRIBUTING.md
• Roadmap: See ROADMAP.md