# Chain of Thought Variance Clamp: Guardrails and Fix Pattern
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Reduce random drift in planning and multi step reasoning. This page gives a clamp recipe so your plan length, tool order, and citations stay stable across seeds and paraphrases. --- ## Open these first - Visual map and recovery → [rag-architecture-and-recovery.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/rag-architecture-and-recovery.md) - End to end knobs → [retrieval-playbook.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/retrieval-playbook.md) - Traceability and payload schema → [retrieval-traceability.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/retrieval-traceability.md) → [data-contracts.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/data-contracts.md) - Related failures → [logic-collapse.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/logic-collapse.md) · [entropy-overload.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/entropy-overload.md) · [recursive-loop.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/recursive-loop.md) · [hallucination-reentry.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/hallucination-reentry.md) · [context-stitching-and-window-joins.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/context-stitching-and-window-joins.md) - Prompt fences → [PromptAssembly memory fences & state keys](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/PromptAssembly/memory_fences_and_state_keys.md) - Eval → [eval_semantic_stability.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/eval/eval_semantic_stability.md) --- ## Symptoms | Symptom | What you see | |---|---| | Same inputs, different plans | Tool order or step count changes by run | | Paraphrase flips the answer | Harmless wording changes cause new chain or conclusion | | JSON plan reshuffles | Fields reorder or optional fields go missing | | Intermittent tool loops | One seed calls tools twice, another once | | Cite then explain breaks | Citations disappear in long chains or only appear sometimes | --- ## Why variance explodes 1) **Unpinned headers**. Role and policy text move around between runs. 2) **Loose schemas**. Plans allow free text where enums should exist. 3) **No state keys**. Chains cannot carry `plan_rev`, `seed_id`, or `λ_target`. 4) **Ranking variance**. Inputs to the chain are not deterministically ordered. 5) **No bridges**. Cross window steps lack an anchor restatement. 6) **High entropy**. Overlong prompts and mixed analyzers amplify randomness. --- ## Acceptance targets - λ remains convergent across three paraphrases and two seeds - ΔS(question, plan_header) ≤ 0.45 and flat across seeds - Plan length variance ≤ 10 percent across two seeds - Tool call sequence identical for the same evidence set - Coverage of target section ≥ 0.70 with cite then explain intact --- ## Fix in 60 seconds 1) **Lock the header order and schema** Pin system header segments and require cite then explain. → [data-contracts.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/data-contracts.md) · [retrieval-traceability.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/retrieval-traceability.md) 2) **Attach state keys** Carry `{plan_rev, seed_id, λ_target, index_hash, context_hash}` through each step. → [memory_fences_and_state_keys.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/PromptAssembly/memory_fences_and_state_keys.md) 3) **Apply BBAM variance clamp** Two stage plan. Stage A generates the plan at low temperature with enumerated options and a deterministic tie break. Stage B executes the plan with normal temperature but cannot change step count or tool order unless it emits a structured re plan request. 4) **Deterministic ordering in inputs** Sort snippets by `(doc_id, section_id, win_idx)` after rerank. → [rerankers.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/rerankers.md) 5) **Add BBCR micro bridges at joins** Restate the active anchor and the current step goal across window boundaries. → [anchoring-and-bridge-proofs.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/anchoring-and-bridge-proofs.md) --- ## Minimal clamp contract Add this struct to your plan steps. Enforce it in tools and in the LLM planner. ```json { "plan_rev": 3, "λ_target": "convergent", "seed_id": "s1", "index_hash": "faiss:7c91...", "context_hash": "sha1:b2ae...", "steps": [ {"idx": 1, "tool": "retrieve", "args_schema": "strict", "may_branch": false}, {"idx": 2, "tool": "analyze_snippets", "args_schema": "strict", "may_branch": false}, {"idx": 3, "tool": "answer", "args_schema": "strict", "may_branch": false} ], "tie_break": "doc_id,section_id,win_idx" } ```` Rules * Stage A can only choose among enumerated step templates. * Stage B cannot insert or remove steps. To change, it must emit `{replan:true, reason:"..."}` and stop. * Tool args must be strict JSON with enums where applicable. --- ## Verification playbook * Three paraphrase run with two seeds. λ stays convergent, plan length variance ≤ 10 percent. * ΔS(question, plan\_header) ≤ 0.45 on both seeds. * Citations appear before explanation in every run. * Tie break yields the same snippet order across seeds. If ΔS is flat and high, suspect index or metric mismatch. → [embedding-vs-semantic.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/embedding-vs-semantic.md) · [chunking-checklist.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/chunking-checklist.md) --- ## Copy paste prompt ``` You have TXT OS and the WFGY Problem Map loaded. Goal: clamp chain-of-thought variance. Inputs: - question: "{q}" - snippets: [{doc_id, section_id, win_idx, ΔS_to_question, source_url}] - constraints: cite_then_explain=true, args_schema="strict" Do: 1) Stage A (planner, low temperature 0.2–0.4): - Produce a fixed-length plan using the step templates {retrieve, analyze_snippets, answer}. - Order inputs deterministically by (doc_id, section_id, win_idx). - Output: { "plan_rev": n, "λ_target": "convergent", "seed_id": "{seed}", "steps": [{"idx":1,"tool":"retrieve"}, ...], "tie_break": "doc_id,section_id,win_idx" } 2) Stage B (executor): - Execute the plan without changing step count or order. - If a change is needed, stop and emit {"replan": true, "reason": "..."}. 3) Always return JSON: { "plan_rev": n, "answer": "... cite then explain ...", "λ_state": "convergent|divergent", "ΔS_plan_header": 0.xx, "coverage": 0.xx } If λ is divergent or ΔS ≥ 0.60, include the exact fix page to open. ``` --- ## Common gotchas * Planner runs with a different header than executor. Keep a single pinned header block. * Rerank uses a different analyzer than indexing. Normalize, then tie break deterministically. * Tool schemas accept free text. Replace with enums and strict JSON. * Bridges omitted at window boundaries. Re cite the anchor before continuing. * Prompt injection or role drift unlocks free form steps. Lock system text and schema. → [prompt-injection.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/prompt-injection.md) --- ## When to escalate * λ remains divergent after clamp and bridges → inspect long chain stability and collapse patterns. Open: [logic-collapse.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/logic-collapse.md) · [entropy-overload.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/GlobalFixMap/Reasoning/entropy-overload.md) * Live flip flops only in production → add live probes and slow ramp with backoff. Open: [ops/live\_monitoring\_rag.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/ops/live_monitoring_rag.md) · [ops/debug\_playbook.md](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/ProblemMap/ops/debug_playbook.md) --- ### 🔗 Quick-Start Downloads (60 sec) | Tool | Link | 3-Step Setup | | -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **WFGY 1.0 PDF** | [Engine Paper](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/I_am_not_lizardman/WFGY_All_Principles_Return_to_One_v1.0_PSBigBig_Public.pdf) | 1️⃣ Download · 2️⃣ Upload to your LLM · 3️⃣ Ask “Answer using WFGY + ” | | **TXT OS (plain-text OS)** | [TXTOS.txt](https://github.com/onestardao/WFGY/blob/main/OS/TXTOS.txt) | 1️⃣ Download · 2️⃣ Paste into any LLM chat · 3️⃣ Type “hello world” — OS boots instantly | --- ### Explore More | Layer | Page | What it’s for | | --- | --- | --- | | ⭐ Proof | [WFGY Recognition Map](/recognition/README.md) | External citations, integrations, and ecosystem proof | | ⚙️ Engine | [WFGY 1.0](/legacy/README.md) | Original PDF tension engine and early logic sketch (legacy reference) | | ⚙️ Engine | [WFGY 2.0](/core/README.md) | Production tension kernel for RAG and agent systems | | ⚙️ Engine | [WFGY 3.0](/TensionUniverse/EventHorizon/README.md) | TXT based Singularity tension engine (131 S class set) | | 🗺️ Map | [Problem Map 1.0](/ProblemMap/README.md) | Flagship 16 problem RAG failure taxonomy and fix map | | 🗺️ Map | [Problem Map 2.0](/ProblemMap/wfgy-rag-16-problem-map-global-debug-card.md) | Global Debug Card for RAG and agent pipeline diagnosis | | 🗺️ Map | [Problem Map 3.0](/ProblemMap/wfgy-ai-problem-map-troubleshooting-atlas.md) | Global AI troubleshooting atlas and failure pattern map | | 🧰 App | [TXT OS](/OS/README.md) | .txt semantic OS with fast bootstrap | | 🧰 App | [Blah Blah Blah](/OS/BlahBlahBlah/README.md) | Abstract and paradox Q&A built on TXT OS | | 🧰 App | [Blur Blur Blur](/OS/BlurBlurBlur/README.md) | Text to image generation with semantic control | | 🏡 Onboarding | [Starter Village](/StarterVillage/README.md) | Guided entry point for new users | If this repository helped, starring it improves discovery so more builders can find the docs and tools. 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