Context Layer

Execution Modes

LLM execution behaves differently over time. Execution modes define how interactions are governed, controlled, and terminated.

Without explicit execution semantics, systems drift, loop, or fail unpredictably. Context Layer introduces execution modes to enforce how interactions evolve over time.

Why execution needs modes

LLM systems fail over time, not at a single step. Most use cases involve multi-step workflows and conversational state. Most systems treat every interaction the same: prompt → model → output. No distinction between bounded workflow and ongoing conversation.

  • • Workflows do not terminate cleanly
  • • Steps execute out of order
  • • Systems loop or stall
  • • Context grows without control

The system does not know when to stop. Even with high per-step accuracy, reliability collapses: 95% per step drops to ~60% over 10 steps. Execution must be bounded when necessary, persistent when appropriate, controlled at every step.

Flow vs Pulse execution

Flow governs bounded workflows. Pulse governs conversational interaction.

Execution Modes

Flow or Pulse. Bounded or persistent. Enforced at runtime.

Flow mode (bounded execution)

Structured, multi-step workflows. One session per workflow. Sequential steps. Shared state. Explicit termination required.

Execution must terminate. A workflow is not complete until explicitly closed.

Pulse mode (persistent execution)

Conversational interaction. Session-scoped. Evolving state. Controlled memory persistence. No explicit termination.

Execution persists, but remains governed.

Mode isolation

Flow semantics cannot operate in Pulse. Pulse cannot operate in Flow. Enforced at runtime. No mixing.

Lifecycle enforcement

Flow: sequential, must terminate. Pulse: continuous, state evolves. Execution is a governed process over time, not just input → output.

Contract-bound behavior

Lifecycle rules versioned. Enforcement fixed per contract. No implicit drift. Identical workflows behave identically over time.

Why execution modes matter

Execution modes are the foundation of reliable execution, not configuration.

Workflows must terminate. Conversations must remain stable. Errors accumulate across steps without lifecycle control. State must persist, reset, and evolve in a defined way. LLM systems cannot be reliably controlled over time without execution modes.

Govern execution with Context Layer

Execution modes define how interactions unfold over time. Context Layer enforces these modes through contract-bound Execution Authority.

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