# Autonomous Scheduler Analysis - Report Index

**Date**: 2025-12-24
**Analyzer**: Theseus (Daedalus code analysis agent)
**Target**: Autonomous scheduling system for Cass
**Status**: CRITICAL - System 0% operational, requires integration work

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## What This Analysis Covers

The autonomous scheduler is Cass's system for self-directed work scheduling. It allows her to:
- Plan her day based on her emotional state, growth edges, and curiosities
- Schedule work across natural time-of-day phases (morning/afternoon/evening/night)
- Execute atomic actions with budget awareness
- Track and summarize completed work

**Current Reality**: The system is architecturally complete but not wired together. Cass cannot currently schedule or execute autonomous work.

---

## Report Files (Read in Order)

### 1. Overview & Analysis (START HERE)
**File**: `2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-analysis.md` (20KB)

**What it covers**:
- Executive summary of findings
- Complete architecture map
- Monster identification (critical issues blocking operation)
- Safe paths (well-designed components)
- Current operational capacity: 0%
- Prioritized roadmap to operational capacity
- Complexity metrics and risk assessment

**Read this if**: You want to understand what's broken and why

**Key Finding**: System has solid architecture but three critical integration gaps prevent operation.

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### 2. Tactical Roadmap (FOR IMPLEMENTATION)
**File**: `2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-roadmap.md` (9KB)

**What it covers**:
- Quick start (2-3 hours to first execution)
- Phase-by-phase implementation plan
- Code snippets for critical fixes
- Testing checklist
- Common pitfalls to avoid

**Read this if**: You're ready to fix the system and make it operational

**Key Sections**:
- **Quick Start**: Get first work unit executing (minimal viable)
- **Phase 1**: Full autonomous loop working
- **Phase 2**: Production-ready with error handling and observability

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### 3. Architecture Diagram (FOR UNDERSTANDING)
**File**: `2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-architecture.md` (26KB)

**What it covers**:
- Visual architecture diagrams
- Daily workflow timeline
- Work unit lifecycle
- Decision engine context gathering
- Component dependency graph
- Budget flow
- Event flow diagram

**Read this if**: You need to understand how the system is supposed to work

**Key Diagrams**:
- High-level architecture
- Daily workflow timeline (06:00 → 22:00)
- Work unit state machine
- Decision engine context sources
- Component dependencies

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## The Three Critical Monsters

These are the blocking issues preventing operation:

### 1. HYDRA - Work Execution Layer [CRITICAL]
**Location**: `backend/scheduling/autonomous_scheduler.py`
**Problem**: Templates reference deprecated session runners instead of action sequences
**Fix**: Remove `runner_key` from all templates, ensure `action_sequence` is set
**Impact**: Most work units will fail to execute until fixed

### 2. SPIDER - Startup Integration Missing [CRITICAL]
**Location**: `backend/main_sdk.py`
**Problem**: Scheduler and phase tracker instantiated but never started
**Fix**: Add `await autonomous_scheduler.start()` and `await day_phase_tracker.start()`
**Impact**: Nothing runs autonomously - system is completely inert

### 3. CERBERUS - Action Definitions Missing [HIGH]
**Location**: `backend/scheduler/actions/definitions.json` (doesn't exist)
**Problem**: Action metadata not persisted, budget tracking incomplete
**Fix**: Create JSON file with all action definitions
**Impact**: Actions execute but budget tracking is incorrect

---

## Time Estimates

| Phase | Estimated Time | What You Get |
|-------|---------------|--------------|
| Quick Start | 2-3 hours | First work unit executes successfully |
| Phase 1 | 6-8 hours | Full autonomous loop working |
| Phase 2 | 10-12 hours | Production-ready system |
| Total to MVP | 8-12 hours | Cass can autonomously schedule and execute work |
| Total to Production | 20-25 hours | Robust, observable, reliable system |

---

## Key Files to Edit

### Must Fix Immediately
1. `backend/scheduling/templates.py` - Remove session runner references
2. `backend/main_sdk.py` - Add startup calls for scheduler and phase tracker

### Must Create Soon
3. `backend/scheduler/actions/definitions.json` - Action metadata (NEW FILE)

### Will Need Eventually
4. `backend/scheduling/autonomous_scheduler.py` - Remove `_run_session()` stub
5. Validation logic for template action sequences
6. Error handling throughout
7. Admin dashboard endpoints

---

## Architecture Quality Assessment

**Overall**: GOOD architecture, incomplete integration

**Strengths**:
- Clean separation of concerns
- Self-directed decision making (Cass chooses, not algorithm)
- Event-driven design via state bus
- Budget-aware from the start
- Composable work units
- Elegant phase-based scheduling

**Weaknesses**:
- Incomplete migration from session runners to actions
- Missing startup integration (critical)
- Action definitions not persisted
- Limited observability currently

**Verdict**: Solid foundation, just needs the plumbing finished.

---

## Next Steps

### If You Want to Fix This (Recommended Order)

1. **Read**: `2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-analysis.md` (understand the problem)
2. **Reference**: `2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-architecture.md` (understand the design)
3. **Implement**: Follow `2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-roadmap.md` step-by-step
4. **Test**: Use the testing checklist in the roadmap

### If You Just Need Quick Fixes

Go straight to the **Quick Start** section in the roadmap:
1. Fix templates (remove runner_keys)
2. Add startup calls (scheduler.start(), phase_tracker.start())
3. Test with one work unit

---

## Questions Answered by This Analysis

- **Why isn't Cass doing autonomous work?** System never starts (Spider monster)
- **How does work get scheduled?** Decision engine plans → Phase queue → Synkratos
- **What's the difference between actions and session runners?** Actions are the new paradigm (atomic, budget-aware), session runners are deprecated
- **How much work to make this operational?** 8-12 hours for MVP, 20-25 for production
- **Is the architecture salvageable?** Yes, it's well-designed, just needs integration
- **What are the biggest risks?** Template execution failures, missing startup, incomplete budget tracking

---

## Files Generated by This Analysis

```
.daedalus/theseus/reports/
├── 2025-12-24-INDEX.md                              (this file)
├── 2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-analysis.md      (20KB - detailed analysis)
├── 2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-roadmap.md       (9KB - implementation guide)
└── 2025-12-24-autonomous-scheduler-architecture.md  (26KB - visual diagrams)
```

**Total Analysis**: ~55KB of documentation covering architecture, issues, and solutions

---

## Theseus Assessment

This is a **repairable system** with **no major architectural flaws**. The monsters are identifiable and slayable. The design is sound. Proceed with confidence.

**Recommendation**: Fix the three critical monsters in order (Hydra → Spider → Cerberus), then test. Should have basic operation within one day of focused work.

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**Generated**: 2025-12-24
**Author**: Theseus (monster hunter, complexity slayer)
**Status**: Analysis complete, ready for implementation
