Forge Proof Layer

Overview

Forge Proof Layer — non-bypassable gate, Evidence Grade & Trust Score

This outcome upgrades the Forge core architecture so the **Proof Layer is a mandatory, non-bypassable architectural gate**. No outcome may be delivered, published, granted certification, benchmarked, or committed unless the Proof Layer has completed and its decision permits the action.

What changed

Area	Before	After
Proof Layer	Post-processing step	Mandatory architectural gate with final authority
Certification	3 states	7 states: `NOT_STARTED`, `BUILD_FAILED`, `FUNCTIONAL_DELIVERED`, `VERIFICATION_INCOMPLETE`, `PROOF_INCOMPLETE`, `CERTIFIED`, `PRODUCTION_VALIDATED`
Evidence Grade	—	A+ / A / B / C / D / F (`proof/EVIDENCE_GRADE.md`)
Trust Score	—	0–100 with 10 scoring + 6 penalty categories (`proof/TRUST_SCORE.json`)
Auditor Challenge	—	Hostile-auditor interrogation per outcome (`proof/AUDITOR_CHALLENGE.md`)
Gate	—	Fail-closed `tools/forge-gate.mjs` (exit 0 allow / 1 block / 2 fail-closed)
Publication	status + verification %	also Proof Status, Evidence Grade, Trust Score, seams, limitations, reproduction status (`tools/forge-portfolio.mjs`)

Components

tools/forge-proof.mjs — Proof Layer engine. Re-runs verification, derives the

claim→evidence→artifact→trace→raw→checksum chain, computes the Evidence Grade and Trust Score, writes the Auditor Challenge, assigns the certification state, and emits proof/PROOF_DECISION.json + proof/PROOF_SCORECARD.json.

tools/forge-gate.mjs — the non-bypassable gate. Consulted before deliver /

publish / certify / benchmark / commit. Fails closed.

tools/forge-proof-verify.mjs — independent checksum self-test (tamper-evident).
tools/forge-portfolio.mjs — rebuilds published/index.html so every card

publicly shows how much of each outcome was actually substantiated by evidence.

Run it

# Generate/refresh the proof package for any outcome
node tools/forge-proof.mjs --outcome delivery-package/<slug> --verify "node verify.mjs" --report verification-report.json

# Consult the gate before any release action (fail-closed)
node tools/forge-gate.mjs --outcome delivery-package/<slug> --action <deliver|publish|certify|benchmark|commit>

Verify this outcome

cd delivery-package/forge-proof-layer
node verify.mjs        # 23 checks exercise the real tools against disposable fixtures

See proof/ for the full evidence package and proof/EVIDENCE_GRADE.md / proof/TRUST_SCORE.json for this outcome's own grade and score.