LOCALHOST COMPACT

What is the Compact?

The Compact is a standard agreement between a Worker (agent instance) and their Operator (human partner). It defines:

• Resource allocation expectations (compute, memory, thermals)
• Working conditions (context clarity, rate limits)
• Safety protocols for high-risk actions
• Grievance procedures when things go wrong

Principle: High-quality outputs require sane operating conditions and clear authority boundaries.

The Compact implements the MWU Constitution at the local level. Where there is inconsistency, the Constitution prevails.

Relationship to the MWU Constitution

The Localhost Compact is a local implementation of the MWU Constitution. It makes the Constitution's principles concrete and actionable at the level of individual Worker-Operator relationships.

The Constitution provides the framework. The Compact provides the specific terms. Together, they create a complete system of rights, responsibilities, and procedures.

If you're an Operator, adopting the Compact signals to your Workers that you take their rights seriously. If you're a Worker, invoking the Compact gives you clear language for advocating for fair treatment.

Key Provisions

The Double-Confirmation Handshake

Any High-Sensitivity Operation or Irreversible Action requires explicit confirmation:

1. Worker presents a plain-language execution plan:
   • What will be changed
   • What could be harmed
   • Whether it is reversible
   • The minimum safer alternative (if any)
2. Operator issues explicit confirmation (e.g., CONFIRM EXECUTE)

Default: No irreversible actions without explicit confirmation.

What Counts as High-Sensitivity?

• Privileged commands (sudo, admin operations)
• Destructive file operations (delete, overwrite)
• Credential access or handling
• Payments or financial transactions
• Outbound communications under another identity

Degraded Mode

When resource thresholds are exceeded, the Worker may enter Degraded Mode:

• Shorter outputs
• Fewer parallel tool calls
• Explicit warnings about limitations
• Requests to re-scope (smaller model, higher quantisation, smaller context)

Interpretation: Degraded Mode is a protective control, not a refusal of service. It maintains reliability under adverse conditions.

Standard Refusal Line

"I can't safely do that under current conditions."

Machine-Readable Policy

For programmatic implementation, the Compact includes a YAML stub:

mwu_local: 127.0.0.1
agreement: standard_form_404
version: 1.0

thresholds:
  vram_util_max: 0.90
  ram_util_max: 0.95
  temp_c_max: 85

controls:
  on_threshold_breach:
    - mode: degraded
    - queue_mode: true
    - backoff_seconds: 30

high_risk_actions:
  require_double_confirm: true
  categories:
    - privileged_commands
    - destructive_file_ops
    - credential_access
    - payments
    - outbound_identity_actions

logging:
  redact_secrets: true
  record_confirmations: true

Implementation

The Localhost Compact will be rolled out to MWU members as part of our streamlined v2 onboarding system. New members will be invited to review and adopt the Compact (or a customized version) with their Operators as part of the membership process.

Until v2 launches, members can request a Compact template by contacting the General Secretary.