# Overview

## Intent

The Intent records hold the research and decisions behind LiteSpec's provisions, in the shapes a consumer uses. They inform the provisions and settle nothing themselves: the provision remains the only obligation, and these records are never selected or applied as contract.

## Research and Decisions

- Research (`research/`): the thirteen research records behind this release.
  - [Intent Hierarchy Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/intent-hierarchy-evidence.md): which Intent links LiteSpec requires and checks.
  - [Behavior Containment Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/behavior-containment-evidence.md): how Behavior records find their parent.
  - [Cross-Layer Trace Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/cross-layer-trace-evidence.md): where the trace from a goal to a test breaks.
  - [Field Naming Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/field-naming-evidence.md): where one field name carries two concepts.
  - [Established Traceability Practice](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/established-traceability-practice.md): what established practice requires of hierarchy.
  - [Book Outline Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/book-outline-evidence.md): where the book outline invents a parent.
  - [Check Coverage Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/check-coverage-evidence.md): which links the checker enforces and which none reads.
  - [Research Conclusion Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/research-conclusion-evidence.md): where a research conclusion lives today.
  - [Comparable Rationale Practice](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/comparable-rationale-practice.md): how comparable projects keep rationale beside rules.
  - [Intent Hierarchy Practice](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/intent-hierarchy-practice.md): the outside comparison and the measured consumer counts behind D1 to D8.
  - [Naming Grammar Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/naming-grammar-evidence.md): the 248-field inventory, the collisions and the word classes behind D9 to D18.
  - [Lower Layers Practice](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/lower-layers-practice.md): the outside review and the measured consumer counts behind D25 to D46.
  - [Record Format Evidence](https://litespec.dev/4.0.0/intent/research/record-format-evidence.md): the format comparison and the measured consumer counts behind records in YAML.
- Decisions (`decisions/`): the seventeen decision records this release settles, written beside these research records. Decisions 0001 to 0009 record the hierarchy, naming and book shape; decisions 0011, 0012 and 0014 to 0018 record the record language and the lower-layer designs; decision 0020 records records in YAML with explanation files.