Promotion rules decide when a capability truly belongs above its earliest usable stage. They protect the library from two common errors: pushing older practical knowledge too high because it sounds technical, and placing modern high-dependency methods too low because the subject itself is basic.
The rule is simple: classify the simplest useful implementation, not modern best practice. A capability belongs at the earliest stage where it can be used safely and repeatably.
| Gate | Question | Example Range |
|---|---|---|
| Power | What energy continuity is mandatory? | Human/animal, biomass, local mechanical, reliable electric, grid, precision continuous |
| Tooling | What equipment and precision are mandatory? | Improvised, hand tools, workshop, heavy infrastructure, precision facility |
| Materials | How deep and pure must supply chains be? | Found/local, community stock, standardized industrial, regional, high-purity |
| Workforce | What specialization is mandatory? | Field user, apprentice, technician, engineer/institution, specialist scientist |
| Scale | What fixed scale is mandatory? | Individual, community, workshop, regional network, advanced facility |
| Coordination | What organization is mandatory? | Small group, community, enterprise, public system, advanced regulatory/scientific system |
The earliest fully usable stage is the highest confirmed requirement across the six gates.
| Capability | Lower Form | Higher Form |
|---|---|---|
| Casting | A1 small foundry and sand casting | A2 industrial foundry and controlled casting |
| Wind power | A1 mechanical windmills and wind pumps | A2 electric turbines and controls |
| Sanitation | A1 latrines, soap, boiling, safe chlorine use | A2 process control; A3 municipal networks |
| Electrical systems | A1 salvage, isolation, rewinding, basic testing | A2 manufacture, regulation, powered workshops |
| Tidal power | A1/A2 mechanical current or wave power | A2/A3 tidal electric generation and grid integration |