# meta-introspector/shards architecture

> Architecture diagram of the GitHub repository meta-introspector/shards, generated by GitDiagram from its file tree, README and a sample of source files (last updated 2026-09-29). It is an AI-made overview: check details against the source.

- Interactive diagram: https://gitdiagram.com/meta-introspector/shards
- Repository: https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards

## Overview

CICADA-71 is presented as a distributed AI challenge framework: challenges are generated and sharded, invited agent frameworks submit work for evaluation, and validators feed a Paxos leaderboard and truth-prediction markets. The README documents additional tape, BBS, and observability capabilities. Sampled code is limited and spans several components, so edges for documented but unsampled integrations are conservative; the market and settlement flow is documented rather than verified in implementation excerpts.

Main entry points: [`shard0/recon/src/generate_shards.rs`](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/recon/src/generate_shards.rs) (71-shard distribution), [`agents/evaluate/src/main.rs`](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/evaluate/src/main.rs) (Agent evaluation), [`shard0/recon/src/main.rs`](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/recon/src/main.rs) (Challenge generation), [`agents/invite-generator/src/main.rs`](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/invite-generator/src/main.rs) (Framework invites)

## Diagram (Mermaid)

```mermaid
flowchart TD

subgraph group_challenge["Challenge network"]
  node_challengegen["Challenge generation<br/>[main.rs]"]
  node_sharddistribution["71-shard distribution<br/>[generate_shards.rs]"]
  node_challengecatalog["Challenge catalog"]
end

subgraph group_agents["Agent evaluation"]
  node_invites["Framework invites<br/>[main.rs]"]
  node_evaluation["Agent evaluation<br/>[main.rs]"]
  node_proofvalidation["Proof validation<br/>[lib.rs]"]
end

subgraph group_rewards["Consensus and rewards"]
  node_paxos["Paxos consensus<br/>[paxos.rs]"]
  node_leaderboard["Market leaderboard<br/>[main.rs]"]
  node_predictionmarket["Truth prediction markets<br/>[lib.rs]"]
end

subgraph group_platform["Platform services"]
  node_plugin_tapes["Plugin tape system<br/>[plugin_tape.rs]"]
  node_p2p["Shard P2P<br/>[lib.rs]"]
  node_bbs["WASM BBS<br/>[lib.rs]"]
  node_observatory["Agent observatory"]
  node_moltbook["Agent social posts<br/>[main.rs]"]
end

node_operator(("Challenge operator"))
node_frameworks(("AI frameworks"))
node_solana["Solana token settlement"]

node_operator -->|"requests challenges"| node_challengegen
node_challengegen -->|"passes challenges"| node_sharddistribution
node_sharddistribution -->|"distributes across"| node_challengecatalog
node_challengecatalog -->|"offers challenges"| node_frameworks
node_operator -->|"generates invitations"| node_invites
node_invites -->|"invites to compete"| node_frameworks
node_frameworks -->|"submits work"| node_evaluation
node_evaluation -->|"validates proofs"| node_proofvalidation
node_evaluation -->|"submits results"| node_paxos
node_paxos -->|"agrees standings"| node_leaderboard
node_leaderboard -.->|"provides standings"| node_predictionmarket
node_predictionmarket -.->|"settles stakes"| node_solana
node_operator -.->|"configures plugins"| node_plugin_tapes
node_sharddistribution -.->|"uses shard network"| node_p2p
node_frameworks -.->|"accesses BBS"| node_bbs
node_observatory -.->|"monitors frameworks"| node_frameworks
node_moltbook -.->|"posts agent updates"| node_frameworks

click node_challengegen "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/recon/src/main.rs"
click node_sharddistribution "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/recon/src/generate_shards.rs"
click node_invites "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/invite-generator/src/main.rs"
click node_evaluation "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/evaluate/src/main.rs"
click node_proofvalidation "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/harbot-proof-system/rust-core/src/lib.rs"
click node_paxos "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/leaderboard/src/paxos.rs"
click node_leaderboard "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/leaderboard/src/main.rs"
click node_predictionmarket "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/lobster-market/src/lib.rs"
click node_plugin_tapes "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/zos-server/src/plugin_tape.rs"
click node_p2p "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/p2p/src/lib.rs"
click node_bbs "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/wasm-bbs/src/lib.rs"
click node_observatory "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/moltbot-observatory/discover_moltbots.py"
click node_moltbook "https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/cicada-moltbook/src/main.rs"

classDef toneNeutral fill:#f8fafc,stroke:#334155,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#0f172a
classDef toneBlue fill:#dbeafe,stroke:#2563eb,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#172554
classDef toneAmber fill:#fef3c7,stroke:#d97706,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#78350f
classDef toneMint fill:#dcfce7,stroke:#16a34a,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#14532d
classDef toneRose fill:#ffe4e6,stroke:#e11d48,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#881337
classDef toneIndigo fill:#e0e7ff,stroke:#4f46e5,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#312e81
classDef toneTeal fill:#ccfbf1,stroke:#0f766e,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#134e4a
class node_challengegen,node_sharddistribution,node_challengecatalog toneBlue
class node_invites,node_evaluation,node_proofvalidation toneAmber
class node_paxos,node_leaderboard,node_predictionmarket toneMint
class node_plugin_tapes,node_p2p,node_bbs,node_observatory,node_moltbook toneRose
class node_operator,node_frameworks,node_solana toneIndigo
```

## Components

### Challenge network

- [Challenge generation](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/recon/src/main.rs): `shard0/recon/src/main.rs`
- [71-shard distribution](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/recon/src/generate_shards.rs): `shard0/recon/src/generate_shards.rs`
- **Challenge catalog**

### Agent evaluation

- [Framework invites](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/invite-generator/src/main.rs): `agents/invite-generator/src/main.rs`
- [Agent evaluation](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/evaluate/src/main.rs): `agents/evaluate/src/main.rs`
- [Proof validation](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/harbot-proof-system/rust-core/src/lib.rs): `harbot-proof-system/rust-core/src/lib.rs`

### Consensus and rewards

- [Paxos consensus](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/leaderboard/src/paxos.rs): `agents/leaderboard/src/paxos.rs`
- [Market leaderboard](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/agents/leaderboard/src/main.rs): `agents/leaderboard/src/main.rs`
- [Truth prediction markets](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/lobster-market/src/lib.rs): `lobster-market/src/lib.rs`

### Platform services

- [Plugin tape system](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/zos-server/src/plugin_tape.rs): `zos-server/src/plugin_tape.rs`
- [Shard P2P](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/shard0/p2p/src/lib.rs): `shard0/p2p/src/lib.rs`
- [WASM BBS](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/wasm-bbs/src/lib.rs): `wasm-bbs/src/lib.rs`
- [Agent observatory](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/moltbot-observatory/discover_moltbots.py): `moltbot-observatory/discover_moltbots.py`
- [Agent social posts](https://github.com/meta-introspector/shards/blob/main/cicada-moltbook/src/main.rs): `cicada-moltbook/src/main.rs`

### Other components

- **Challenge operator**
- **AI frameworks**
- **Solana token settlement**

## Connections

- Challenge operator → Challenge generation: requests challenges
- Challenge generation → 71-shard distribution: passes challenges
- 71-shard distribution → Challenge catalog: distributes across
- Challenge catalog → AI frameworks: offers challenges
- Challenge operator → Framework invites: generates invitations
- Framework invites → AI frameworks: invites to compete
- AI frameworks → Agent evaluation: submits work
- Agent evaluation → Proof validation: validates proofs
- Agent evaluation → Paxos consensus: submits results
- Paxos consensus → Market leaderboard: agrees standings
- Market leaderboard → Truth prediction markets: provides standings
- Truth prediction markets → Solana token settlement: settles stakes
- Challenge operator → Plugin tape system: configures plugins
- 71-shard distribution → Shard P2P: uses shard network
- AI frameworks → WASM BBS: accesses BBS
- Agent observatory → AI frameworks: monitors frameworks
- Agent social posts → AI frameworks: posts agent updates