Viper Runtime Glossary¶

This glossary defines the core terms used in Viper Runtime documentation.

Core Concepts¶

Term	Definition
Viper	Metadata-driven C++ runtime providing unified Type/Value system, serialization, database, and RPC
dsviper	Python wheel exposing Viper to Python. Strong-typed layer that raises exceptions on type mismatch
P_Viper	Hand-written Python C/API binding (48K LOC) in `src/P_Viper/`
Metadata Everywhere	Core principle: runtime metadata drives serialization, validation, RPC, and Python binding
Reference Semantics	Primitives are immutable; containers are mutable via `shared_ptr` (like Python). Use `copy()` for deep copy
Proactive Philosophy	Invalid operations raise exceptions immediately, never silently ignored (contrast: Commit’s best-effort)
Token Constructor Pattern	Private `struct Token{}` forces all construction through `make()` factories

Type System¶

Term	Definition
Type	Abstract base class defining `typeCode`, `runtimeId`, `representation()`, `equal()`, `compare()`
TypeCode	Enum of 33 codes for fast polymorphic dispatch without RTTI
RuntimeId	UUID computed by MD5 hash of type structure, guarantees C++/Python compatibility
TypePrimitive	Atomic types: Bool, Int8-64, UInt8-64, Float, Double, String, BlobId, CommitId, UUId, Void
TypeStructure	Compound type with named fields
TypeEnumeration	Enumerated type with named cases
TypeConcept	Abstract entity type with optional parent for inheritance
TypeClub	Collection of TypeConcepts for polymorphic grouping
TypeOptional	Container for nullable values: `Optional<T>`
TypeVector	Dynamic array: `vector<T>`
TypeSet	Ordered set: `set<T>`
TypeMap	Dictionary: `map<K, V>`
TypeVariant	Union type: `variant<T1, T2, ...>`
TypeXArray	CRDT array with UUID positions for concurrent editing
TypeKey	Wrapper type for database keys referencing concept instances
Type-Value Duality	For each TypeX exists a corresponding ValueX

Value System¶

Term	Definition
Value	Abstract base for all values. Defines `type()`, `hash()`, `equal()`, `compare()`, `copy()`
Value<Primitive>	Primitive values (ValueBool, ValueInt32, ValueDouble, etc.) with constants `Zero()`, `One()`, `Empty()`
ValueVector	Dynamic container with Python-like API: append, insert, pop, index
ValueMap	Ordered dictionary with get, set, keys, values, items
ValueSet	Ordered set with add, remove, union, intersection
ValueStructure	Named structure with typed fields, created via TypeStructureDescriptor
ValueEnumeration	Enumeration case value, created via TypeEnumerationDescriptor
ValueOptional	Nullable wrapper with `isNil()`, `unwrap()`, `get()`, `wrap()`, `clear()`
ValueKey	Typed reference to a concept instance (instanceId + typeConcept)
ValueXArray	CRDT array with UUID positions for concurrent editing

Key System¶

Term	Definition
Key	Lightweight struct (instanceId, runtimeId) for attachment lookups
ValueKey	Complete key as Value with type metadata
instanceId	Unique UUID identifying a specific instance of a Concept

Path System¶

Term	Definition
Path	Sequence of PathComponents for navigation in values: `at()` (read), `set()` (write)
PathComponent	Single navigation step: Field, Index, Key, Unwrap, Entry, Element, Position

Blob System¶

Term	Definition
Blob	Binary data container (`std::vector<uint8_t>`)
BlobId	SHA-1 identifier (20 bytes) for content-addressable storage
BlobLayout	Type metadata (DataType + component count) for binary interpretation

Definitions System¶

Term	Definition
Definitions	Central registry for user-defined types. Exclusive factory for Structure, Enumeration, Concept, Club, Attachment
Attachment	Typed Key-Document association defining a conceptual `map<Key, Document>`
NameSpace	Scope where types are defined, identified by UUID

Attachment Interfaces¶

Term	Definition
AttachmentGetting	Abstract read-only interface: `keys()`, `has()`, `get()`
AttachmentMutating	Abstract mutation interface extending AttachmentGetting: `set()`, `update()`, etc.
Databasing	Database-specific interface: AttachmentGetting + `set()`, `delete()`

Implementations of AttachmentGetting/AttachmentMutating:

Database (via Databasing)
CommitState (read-only snapshot)
CommitMutableState (isolated evaluation context)
AttachmentMutatingRemote (RPC — bidirectional protocol)

Database System¶

Term	Definition
Database	SQLite-backed storage implementing Databasing

Serialization¶

Term	Definition
StreamReading	Typed reading interface for primitives, strings, blobs, arrays
StreamWriting	Typed writing interface (same types as Reading)
StreamCodecInstancing	Factory for encoders/decoders (Binary, TokenBinary, Raw)
Codec	Encoder/decoder pair for object-to-binary conversion

Hashing¶

Term	Definition
SHA-1	Cryptographic hash (160-bit) used for BlobId and CommitId
MD5	Hash (128-bit) used for RuntimeId generation

Network¶

Term	Definition
RPC	Remote Procedure Call protocol for distributed communication
Service	Central aggregator of Definitions and FunctionPools
FunctionPool	Named container of callable Functions
Function	Typed callable with prototype validation

Error Handling¶

Term	Definition
Viper::Error	Single exception type with structured format: `[process@host]:Component:Domain:Code:Message`
XxxErrors	Namespaces grouping related error codes (TypeErrors, ContainerErrors, DatabaseErrors, etc.)

Python Binding¶

Term	Definition
Seamless Wrapper	P_Viper’s metadata-driven conversion from Python natives to Viper Values
ViperError	Python exception type for Viper errors

Patterns¶

Term	Definition
Content-Addressable	Identifiers derived from content hash (SHA-1 for Blob/Commit, MD5 for Type)
TypeCode Dispatch	Fast polymorphism via switch on TypeCode enum instead of RTTI
Dual Reality	Kibo-generated code operates in static “Developer Reality” consuming dynamic “Runtime Reality”
RAII	Resource Acquisition Is Initialization - automatic cleanup in destructors

See Also¶

Philosophy - Core principles
Architecture - 7-layer model
Type System - Type hierarchy
Value System - Value containers
Patterns - Design patterns
Commit Glossary - Commit Engine terminology