KN-86 UI Design System

Overview

This document defines the reusable UI component patterns, layout architectures, interaction paradigms, and visual conventions for all KN-86 Deckline cartridges. The design system ensures visual and functional consistency across the 14-cartridge library while allowing module-specific customization in appropriate layers.

Platform Constraints:

See CLAUDE.md Canonical Hardware Specification for the authoritative values (main display, auxiliary display, text grid, font, color, key layout, display modes). Summarized for convenience:

Main display: 80-column × 25-row text grid (amber on black), owned jointly by firmware (rows 0 + 24) and cartridges (rows 1–23).
Auxiliary display: CIPHER-LINE OLED above the keyboard, 4 logical rows, rendered by the nOSh runtime. Cipher voice appears here and ONLY here.
Interaction: 30 physical keys + TERM (context-sensitive). See KN-86-Input-System-Architecture.md.

Orchestration Model:

The nOSh runtime owns: mission board, main-grid status bar (row 0), main-grid action bar (row 24), economy, phase chain, and the Cipher voice engine rendered onto CIPHER-LINE.
Cartridges own: main-grid active phase content (rows 1–23), custom displays, sound design, and CIPHER-LINE grammar/vocabulary contributions (see docs/architecture/KN-86-CIPHER-LINE-Grammar-Framework.md).
Universal integration points: contract templates, deck state signatures, cross-module interactions, coherence stack persistence across cart swaps.

Surface split (non-negotiable — Spec Hygiene Rule 6): The main 80×25 grid never carries Cipher utterances. CIPHER-LINE is the sole output surface for the Cipher voice. Screen patterns in §3 apply to the main grid; CIPHER-LINE patterns are documented in §3A CIPHER-LINE below.

1. Screen Architecture Patterns

Pattern 1: Full List Browser

Purpose: Contract selection, transaction lists, menu navigation, option selection.

Layout (80×25 grid):

Row 0   [STATUS BAR: operator handle, credits, reputation]
Row 1   [LIST TITLE: left-aligned]
Rows 2–22 [LIST CONTENT: one item per row]
        [> SELECTED_ITEM (current focus, prefixed with ">")]
        [ ] unselected_item]
        [ ] unselected_item]
Row 24  [ACTION BAR: CAR=enter CDR=next BACK=exit]

Specifications:

Title (row 1, cols 0–78): Module-specific title, e.g., “CONTRACTS”, “TRANSACTIONS”, “TARGETS”
Content (rows 2–22, 21 visible items): Each row is a single list item. Row structure:
```
[>] ITEM_NAME                      [SECONDARY]
[ ] ITEM_NAME                      [SECONDARY]
```
- Col 0–1: Selection marker (”>”, ” ”)
- Col 2–59: Item name (58 chars max, left-aligned, truncated if needed)
- Col 60–78: Secondary data (right-aligned, 19 chars max: threat level, payout, status, etc.)
Focus: Currently selected item highlighted with ”>” prefix. Automatically positioned center-screen if scrolling.
Navigation: CDR cycles items down; CONS (future) or QUOTE could bookmark items
Drill: CAR enters selected item, passes control to detail inspector or phase handler

Audio: Soft key-click on CDR (YM2149 Voice 3, 1.2 kHz, 50ms envelope). Tone changes if jumping to/from list boundary.

Scrolling Behavior: If list has >21 items, display rows 2–22 are a window. Track a view_offset that recenters selected item when navigating past half-screen.

Pattern 2: Split Pane (Dual List/Grid)

Purpose: Comparing two entity streams (Black Ledger’s dual ledgers, ICE Breaker’s node map + inventory).

Layout (80×25 grid):

Row 0   [STATUS BAR]
Row 1   [LEFT TITLE] | [RIGHT TITLE]
        (columns 0–38) | (columns 41–78)
Rows 2–22 [LEFT CONTENT] | [RIGHT CONTENT]
        [>] Item 1    | [>] Item A
        [ ] Item 2    | [ ] Item B
        ...           | ...
Row 24  [ACTION BAR: focus-aware hints]

Specifications:

Divider: Column 39 is the split boundary. Cols 0–38 are left pane, cols 41–78 are right pane.
Each pane: Operates independently as a list browser. Both have their own selection cursors.
Active pane: Determined by most recent key press direction (CDR in left vs. CDR in right). CONS bridges panes (links selected items across boundary).
Titles (row 1): Left title spans cols 0–38 (39 chars max); right title spans cols 41–78 (38 chars max).
Content rows (rows 2–22, 20 visible items per pane): Same format as Pattern 1 but narrower:
```
[>] NAME              [secondary]  |  [>] NAME              [secondary]
```
- Left: cols 0–38 (39 chars per row)
- Right: cols 41–78 (38 chars per row)

Focus Indicator (row 24): Shows which pane has focus. Example: “LEFT: CAR=enter CDR=next” or “RIGHT: CAR=open CDR=next CONS=link”. Info key always applies to the focused pane’s selection.

Audio:

Navigation within pane: Same as Pattern 1
Switching panes (if key binds support it): Rising tone (1.5 kHz, 100ms)
CONS (link operation): Descending pair (1.2 kHz → 800 Hz, 150ms total)

Pattern 3: Full Grid (Tile-Based View)

Purpose: Spatial layouts, network topology overviews, grid-based operations (NeonGrid’s spatial grid).

Layout (80×25 grid):

Row 0   [STATUS BAR]
Row 1   [GRID TITLE: left-aligned]
Rows 2–23 [GRID CONTENT: 22 rows of grid cells]
        (Divide 80 columns into logical cell grid: 4×4, 5×5, 8×8 depending on cell size)
Row 24  [ACTION BAR: movement hints]

Cell Size Examples:

8×8 grid of 10×2-char cells (80 cols / 10 = 8 columns; 22 rows / 2 = 11 rows): Good for high-level tactical overviews, node maps. Each cell: 10 chars wide, 2 rows tall.
```
[ NODE_A ]  [ NODE_B ]  [ NODE_C ]  ...
[   ***  ]  [   -+- ]  [   █░░ ]
```
10×11 grid of 8×2-char cells (80 / 8 = 10 columns; 22 / 2 = 11 rows): Finer detail, inventory grids. Each cell: 8 chars wide, 2 rows tall.

Cell Contents:

Name/Label: Row 0 of cell (top row, max 8–10 chars, centered or left-aligned)
Icon/Status: Row 1 of cell (visual symbol: █, ░, -, +, *, !, etc.)

Navigation:

CAR moves selection to current cell; context-dependent (enter node, inspect location, etc.)
CDR cycles selection through adjacent cells (right → down → left → up wrapping)
INFO shows details of selected cell
ATOM tests if cell is “atomic” (leaf node, cannot drill deeper)

Focus: Current cell is highlighted with a box border:

┌─────────┐      instead of      [ NODE_A ]
│ NODE_A  │
│ ***     │
└─────────┘

Audio: Spatial “scan” tone that rises/falls with cursor position (e.g., pitch increases left→right, down→up).

Pattern 4: Status Dashboard

Purpose: Real-time information display without drilling (operational status, mission progress, threat levels, system state).

Layout (80×25 grid):

Row 0   [STATUS BAR]
Rows 1–4 [SECTION 1: Key Metrics (rows 1–4, max 3 lines of content)]
        SECTION TITLE
        Metric A: ████░░ (50%)
        Metric B: ¤8,400

Rows 5–8 [SECTION 2: Secondary Metrics]
Rows 9–12 [SECTION 3: Alerts/Events]
Rows 13–23 [REMAINING: flexible per cartridge]

Row 24  [ACTION BAR: CDR=scroll CAR=detail BACK=exit]

Specifications:

Sections: Logically divide rows 1–23 into 3–5 sections, each labeled with a bold section title (row N, cols 0–20).
Metrics: Displayed with progress bars (─────) or simple text assignments.
Scrolling: If content exceeds 22 rows, CDR scrolls sections down (one full section per press).
Detail drill: CAR on a metric opens an inspector (Pattern 5).

Section Examples:

MISSION STATUS: Contract name, time elapsed, phase count, objective progress
INVENTORY: Equipment slots, ammo counts, capacity bars
NETWORK STATE: Alert level, ICE threat, system integrity
ALERTS: Recent events (“ICE_SPAWNED”, “PAYOUT_CHANGED”, etc.)

Audio: Periodic soft tones for metric updates (e.g., reputation increase = ascending tone; threat spike = alarm).

Pattern 5: Detail Inspector (Modal/Focused View)

Purpose: Deep inspection of a single item, expanded details, confirmation dialogs, narrative content (mission briefings, technical logs). Cipher utterances render on CIPHER-LINE (§3A), not in this pattern.

Layout (80×25 grid):

Row 0   [STATUS BAR]
Row 1   [TITLE: centered or left-aligned, possibly in caps]
Row 2   [─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────]
Rows 3–22 [CONTENT: formatted text, attributes, nested lists, or narrative]
        Key: Value
        Key: Value
        Description paragraph (wrapped text, left-aligned)
        [Nested list:]
          > Item 1
          > Item 2
Row 23  [EMPTY or subtext]
Row 24  [ACTION BAR: CAR=confirm/accept BACK=cancel QUOTE=bookmark]

Specifications:

Full width (cols 0–79): No left/right panes; content dominates.
Title (row 1): Contract name, item name, or section header (centered or left-aligned, 78 chars max).
Divider (row 2): Optional horizontal line (all dashes: ────...).
Content (rows 3–22, 20 rows): Flexible; typically:
- Key-value pairs: KEY_NAME..................value (right-aligned value at col 60+)
- Formatted text blocks (wrapped, left-aligned)
- Nested lists with indentation (2 spaces per level)
Subtext (row 23): Optional fine print (grayed out conceptually, but still amber on black).

Examples:

Row 1: CONTRACT: INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE
Row 2: ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Row 3: Threat Level.............................4/5 (RED ICE)
Row 4: Payout...................................¤15,000
Row 5: Time Limit...............................8:00
Row 6: Phases...................................2
Row 7:
Row 8: OBJECTIVE:
Row 9: Retrieve encrypted payload from node 7. Exit node cleanly.
Row 10:
Row 11: RESTRICTIONS:
Row 12:  > 2 alerts permitted (3+ triggers full network collapse)
Row 13:  > No destructive attacks (target data must remain intact)
Row 14:
Row 15: REWARD SCALING:
Row 16: Perfect (0 alerts).......................¤18,000 + rep
Row 17: Clean (1–2 alerts)........................¤15,000
Row 18: Compromised (3+ alerts)...................¤8,000
Row 19:
Row 23: [CDR for more | EVAL to accept]
Row 24: [CAR=accept BACK=cancel QUOTE=defer]

Scrolling: If content >20 rows, CDR scrolls up/down (3 rows per press).

Audio: Upon enter: Single ascending tone (1.2 kHz, 100ms). Upon close: Descending tone (800 Hz, 100ms).

Pattern 6: Combat/Action Grid (Real-Time)

Purpose: Active engagement: ICE Breaker node combat, tactical grid interactions, time-pressured decisions.

Layout (80×25 grid):

Row 0   [STATUS BAR: time remaining, threat level, current tool/action]
Row 1   [ACTION LABEL: "ICE COMBAT", "NETWORK NODE", etc.]
Rows 2–18 [COMBAT GRID: 4×4 node grid OR damage/status indicators]
Row 19  [TIME REMAINING: ████░░ 2:34]
Row 20  [THREAT LEVEL: ███░░░ 4/5 (escalating)]
Row 21  [INVENTORY/ACTIVE TOOL: SLICER loaded]
Row 22  [EMPTY]
Row 24  [ACTION BAR: CAR=attack CDR=move APPLY=use-tool EVAL=special BACK=retreat]

Specifications:

Combat Grid (rows 2–18, 17 rows): Divide into combat arena. Examples:
- Node combat: 4×4 grid of node states (open/defended/locked)
- Damage track: Visual bars showing adversary health, player health, system integrity
- Action menu: 3×3 grid of available tactical options
Time Bar (row 19): TIME ████░░░░ 2:34 (visual bar on left, MM:SS on right)
Threat Bar (row 20): THREAT ███░░░ 4/5 (escalation visualized)
Inventory Line (row 21): Current equipped tool, ammo count, or special ability status

Real-Time Mechanics:

Time ticks down continuously (YM2149 clicks per tick)
Every keypress triggers an action immediately (no menu navigation)
CAR = attack; EVAL = special power; APPLY = use item; BACK = retreat (costs time + risk)

Audio:

Threat escalation: Rising arpeggiated tones (three notes, 1.0 → 1.2 → 1.4 kHz) as threat bar fills
Action execution: Different tones per action type (attack = sharp click; special = sweep; retreat = lower tone)
Damage taken: Brief burst of noise (YM2149 noise channel)
Time warning: When <30 seconds remain, accelerating ticks (100ms → 50ms → 20ms intervals)

The Lisp-inspired key semantics must operate consistently across all screen patterns:

Key	Pattern 1: List	Pattern 2: Split Pane	Pattern 3: Grid	Pattern 4: Dashboard	Pattern 5: Inspector	Pattern 6: Combat
CAR	Drill into selected item	Drill into focused pane’s selected item	Move to cell, trigger action	Open detail for selected metric	Accept/confirm	Attack / Execute
CDR	Cycle down (next item)	Cycle down in focused pane	Cycle adjacent cell (clockwise)	Scroll sections down	Scroll content down	Move cursor / Cycle targets
CONS	Combine two items (if applicable)	Link left & right selections across pane boundary	Combine/attach cell to current focus	N/A	N/A	Combine effects / Multi-action
NIL	Clear / deselect	Clear focus	Reset / center grid	N/A	N/A	Cancel action / Clear effect
EVAL	Execute action on selected item	Execute action in focused pane	Execute action on cell	N/A	Confirm decision	Deploy special ability / Execute
QUOTE	Bookmark / flag for later	Bookmark both selections	Bookmark cell	Bookmark metric	Bookmark detail	Mark target for follow-up
APPLY	Use tool on selected item	Use tool in focused pane	Apply tool to cell	N/A	N/A	Use equipped tool / Item
ATOM	Test if item is atomic	Test if selection is leaf	Test if cell is terminal (no sub-cells)	N/A	N/A	N/A
EQ	Compare with quoted item	Compare left vs right (implicit)	Compare quoted cell with current	N/A	N/A	N/A
BACK	Return to parent / exit	Exit to previous menu	Pan out / return	Close inspector	Cancel / back	Retreat (costs time + risk)
INFO	Summary of selected item	Summary of focused pane’s item	Summary of cell	Expand section	Full detail view	Scan / diagnostics
LINK	Transmit / save selection	Link selections (explicit network egress)	Link node to external	N/A	Transmit detail	N/A

Rule 1: List Views (Pattern 1)

Initial Entry: List displays. Selection cursor defaults to first item (row 2).
CDR Navigation: Moves cursor down one row; wraps to top if at bottom.
CAR (Drill): Opens Pattern 5 (inspector) or triggers phase handler for current item.
BACK: Returns to parent context (mission board, inventory hub, etc.).
INFO (single-tap): Shows summary line in action bar or opens abbreviated inspector.
INFO (double-tap): Opens full Pattern 5 detail inspector.
QUOTE: Bookmarks the selected item. Visual: row 2 shows [◊] instead of [>].

Example: Mission Board List

Rows 2–22: Contract listings
Row 2 (selected): [>] INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE           T4 ¤15,000
Row 3: [ ] FORENSIC DIVE: CIPHER CORP                 T2 ¤8,000
CDR → Cursor moves to row 3; row 2 becomes unselected
CAR → Open inspector (Pattern 5) for INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE
QUOTE → Row 2 becomes [◊] INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE (bookmarked)
BACK → Return to boot screen or hub menu

Rule 2: Split Pane Views (Pattern 2)

Pane Focus: Initially, left pane is focused (default). Most recent navigational key in left vs. right determines focus.
CDR: Moves selection in current focused pane only.
CAR: Drills into selected item in focused pane.
CONS: Links selected items across both panes. Creates a connection record or flags a relationship.
Switching Panes: User must explicitly press CDR in the non-focused pane to redirect focus. (Alternative design: EQ key switches panes, but CDR-as-implicit-switch is less clear.)
BACK: Returns to previous context (mission board, etc.).
INFO: Shows detail for current pane’s selection.

Example: Black Ledger Dual Ledger

Pane 1 (LEFT): Account A transaction list
Pane 2 (RIGHT): Account B transaction list

Initial state: Left pane focused
Row 2, Left [>] Transfer: 50K ¤      Row 2, Right [ ] Wire: 45K ¤
Row 3, Left [ ] Deposit: 10K ¤       Row 3, Right [>] Refund: 5K ¤

CDR → Left pane moves to row 3; left still focused
CDR → Left pane wraps to row 2 (cyclic)
CONS → Link selected items: left's "Transfer 50K" <→ right's "Refund 5K"
       (Creates a "possible match" or "flagged correlation")

Rule 3: Grid Views (Pattern 3)

Initial Entry: Cursor centered on grid (e.g., center of 8×8 node grid = node [4,4]).
CDR: Moves cursor in a clockwise direction (right → down → left → up → right…).
Alternative: Some grids allow cardinal movement (up/down/left/right). If so, specify in cartridge docs. Otherwise, CDR spirals clockwise.
CAR: Activates current cell. Drill into node, inspect cell state, or trigger action.
ATOM: Returns “true” if cell is a leaf node (no sub-nodes, cannot drill deeper).
INFO: Shows cell details (strength, type, distance to objective, etc.).
BACK: Pans out one level (e.g., from node detail view to full network overview).
QUOTE: Bookmarks cell for route planning (ICE Breaker: marks safe nodes to path through).

Example: ICE Breaker Network Map

8×8 Node Grid (rows 2–18, cols 0–79):
Row 2:   [░] [░] [░] [█] [!] [░] [░] [░]
Row 4:   [░] [█] [█] [█] [█] [░] [░] [░]
Row 6:   [█] [█] [S] [░] [░] [░] [█] [█]
Row 8:   [░] [░] [░] [░] [!] [X] [░] [░]

[S] = start (player), [X] = exit, [!] = ICE, [█] = firewall, [░] = empty

CDR → Cursor moves right (wraps after rightmost column to leftmost of next row)
CAR → Enter current node; open node combat (Pattern 6) or detail view
QUOTE → Mark node as "safe" (visual: change [░] to [◇])
BACK → Return to contract board

Rule 4: Dashboard Views (Pattern 4)

Initial Entry: Cursor positioned on first section.
CDR: Scrolls down (entire section moves). Cursor remains in relative position.
CAR: Opens inspector (Pattern 5) for the currently-focused metric or section.
BACK: Returns to previous menu or mission board.
INFO: Expands current metric with details (e.g., INFO on threat bar shows “ICE: 2× BLACK, 1× RED HUNTER”).

Example: Operational Dashboard

ACTIVE MISSION: INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE
────────────────────────────────────────
Time Elapsed: ██████░░░ 4:26
Threat Level: ████░░░░░ 3/5
Phase: 1/2
Objective: Retrieve data

INVENTORY
────────────────────────────────────────
Slicer: ████░░░░░ (6/8 charge)
Cracker: ░░░░░░░░░░ (0/8 — depleted)
Worm: ██░░░░░░░░ (2/8)

ALERTS (Recent)
────────────────────────────────────────
[!] ICE updated to level 2 (node 5)
[!] HUNTER spawned (node 3 vicinity)

CDR → Scroll down to next section (INVENTORY, then ALERTS, etc.)
CAR on "Slicer: ..." → Open inspector showing tool details, efficacy, upgrade path
BACK → Return to mission board

Rule 5: Inspector Views (Pattern 5)

Initial Entry: Inspector displays title and content. Cursor at top.
CDR: Scrolls content down (3–5 rows per press).
CAR: Confirms/accepts the inspected item (e.g., “bid on contract”, “equip tool”).
BACK: Cancels and returns to parent context without changes.
QUOTE: Bookmarks the item for later reference (does not accept/confirm).
INFO: Toggles detailed view (if applicable; e.g., toggle between “summary” and “expanded stats”).

Example: Contract Inspector

CAR to inspect a contract from mission board

CONTRACT: INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE
────────────────────────────────────────
Threat Level.............................4/5 (RED ICE)
Payout...................................¤15,000
Time Limit...............................8:00
Phases...................................2

OBJECTIVE:
Retrieve encrypted payload from node 7.

RESTRICTIONS:
 > 2 alerts permitted
 > No destructive attacks

CDR → Scroll down to see REWARD SCALING section
CAR → Accept contract (return to mission board, auto-enter phase 1)
BACK → Cancel; return to contract list without accepting
QUOTE → Bookmark contract for later (no action taken)

Rule 6: Combat/Action Views (Pattern 6)

Initial Entry: Combat grid displays. Cursor at center or current target.
CDR: Moves targeting cursor to next adjacent cell (clockwise or to next enemy).
CAR: Execute attack/action on current target.
EVAL: Deploy special ability (varies per cartridge: ICE Breaker’s EXPLOIT, etc.).
APPLY: Use equipped tool/consumable item.
BACK: Retreat (costs time and increases alert/threat).
No text scrolling: All navigation is positional (grid movement, not linear).

Example: ICE Breaker Node Combat

Rows 2–18: Combat encounter (4 adjacent ICE nodes)
     [JUNK]    [BLACK]    [JUNK]    [─────]
      ↓          ↓          ↓

CDR → Cycle targeting between: JUNK (top-left) → BLACK (top-right) → JUNK (bottom-left) → warp back to JUNK (top-left)
CAR → Attack current target with equipped tool (Slicer? Cracker?)
EVAL → Use special ability (if unlocked; e.g., "REBOOT NODE")
APPLY → Use consumable (antivirus, etc.)
BACK → Retreat from node (costs 1 TIME + triggers ALERT)

3. Standard HUD Components

3.1 Status Bar (Row 0)

Width: 80 characters (cols 0–79) Height: 1 row Content: Left-aligned operator handle, center time/phase, right-aligned credits/reputation/threat

Default Format:

OPERATOR_HANDLE ¤8,400 (5,000/day)  [PHASE 1/2] TIME 2:34  REP 12  THR █████░░░░

Field Breakdown (left to right):

Operator Handle (cols 0–14, 15 chars): e.g., “NEXUS” padded to 15 chars with spaces
Credits (cols 15–30, 15 chars): ¤8,400 (5,000/day) or ¤8,400 (format varies by context)
Phase Info (cols 31–42, 12 chars): [PHASE 1/2] or empty if not in mission
Time (cols 43–52, 10 chars): TIME 2:34 or STANDBY if idle
Reputation (cols 53–61, 9 chars): REP 12 or empty
Threat Bar (cols 62–79, 18 chars): THR █████░░░░ 4/5 (visual bar + numeric)

Customization Points:

Cartridges can add a module-specific status indicator (e.g., ICE Breaker’s ALERT level) in place of phase info
Threat bar can be replaced with health bar, system integrity, or network status

Example: ICE Breaker Status Bar

NEXUS          ¤15,000 (8,000/day)  [ALERT 2/3]  TIME 2:34  REP 12  ICE ████░░░░

Example: Black Ledger Status Bar

FORENSIC       ¤32,100               [PHASE 1/1]  TIME 5:20  REP 24  SUS ██████░░

3.2 Action Bar (Row 24)

Width: 80 characters Height: 1 row Content: Context-sensitive key hints

Format: KEY_NAME=action_description KEY_NAME=action_description ...

Default Key Assignments (Pattern 1: List Browser):

CAR=enter CDR=next BACK=exit INFO=detail QUOTE=mark CONS=link EVAL=accept

Space Management (80 chars):

Each key hint is ~12 chars: CAR=enter (10 chars) + space
Maximum ~6–7 key hints fit in 80 chars before overflow
Prioritize: CAR, CDR, BACK, EVAL, QUOTE, INFO, APPLY (in order of frequency)
Secondary/rare keys (CONS, NIL, ATOM, EQ) only shown if relevant

Context Examples:

List Browser (Pattern 1):

CAR=enter CDR=next BACK=exit INFO=detail QUOTE=mark EVAL=accept

Split Pane (Pattern 2):

CAR=open CDR=next CONS=link BACK=exit LEFT/RIGHT=focus

Grid View (Pattern 3):

CAR=action CDR=move QUOTE=mark INFO=scan BACK=pan EVAL=special

Combat (Pattern 6):

CAR=attack CDR=move EVAL=ability APPLY=tool BACK=retreat

Inspector (Pattern 5):

CAR=accept BACK=cancel QUOTE=mark CDR=scroll

Audio Association: When user presses a key, a unique tone briefly plays to confirm the key was registered:

Low tone (800 Hz): Navigation (CDR, cursor movement)
Mid tone (1.2 kHz): Drill/confirm (CAR, EVAL)
High tone (1.5 kHz): Special (APPLY, CONS)

3.3 Progress Bars

Format Options:

Option A: Compact Bar

Metric: ████░░░░░░ (50%)

10-character bar (█ = filled, ░ = empty)
Value as percentage in parentheses
Total width: ~35 characters

Option B: Labeled Bar

Health: ███████░░░ 70/100

Bar + current/max values

Option C: Minimal (for tight spaces)

████░░░░░░

Bar only, no label (label on previous row)

Usage Examples:

Threat Bar (5-level escalation):

THREAT ████░░░░░░ 3/5
THREAT ██████░░░░ 4/5  ← escalating
THREAT ██████████ 5/5  ← critical (all filled)

Time Remaining:

TIME ███░░░░░░░░ 4:26

Health/Integrity:

SLICER  ██████░░░░ 6/8 charge
HEALTH  ████████░░ 80/100 HP

Completion:

MISSION ███████░░░ 70% complete

Visual Characters:

Filled: █ (U+2588, full block)
Empty: ░ (U+2591, light shade)
Half-filled (if needed): ▌ (U+258C, left half block)

Calculation: bar_length = (current / max) * 10, round down. Display that many █ followed by remaining ░.

3.4 Threat Indicators & Status Symbols

Threat Levels (1–5 scale):

1 = [░░░░░░░░░░] GREEN   (safe)
2 = [██░░░░░░░░] YELLOW  (caution)
3 = [████░░░░░░] ORANGE  (alert)
4 = [██████░░░░] RED     (danger)
5 = [██████████] CRITICAL (system failure imminent)

Status Indicators (inline symbols):

[■] Loaded / Ready / Active
[□] Empty / Unloaded / Standby
[◈] Processing / In Progress
[◊] Bookmarked / Flagged
[!] Alert / Warning
[×] Error / Failed / Locked
[+] New / Added / Bonus
[*] Special / Notable
[√] Complete / Success / Verified

System Status (row 24 or dashboard):

[■] NETWORK ACTIVE
[□] NETWORK OFFLINE
[×] NETWORK FAILED
[!] ALERT: Level 2
[√] OBJECTIVE COMPLETE

ICE Threat Classification (in grid cells or list items):

[J] = JUNK ICE (low threat)
[B] = BLACK ICE (medium threat)
[R] = RED ICE (high threat)
[H] = HUNTER ICE (pursuing threat)

Firewall/Defense States (grid cells):

[─] = Open node
[+] = Defended (ICE present)
[█] = Locked / Firewall engaged
[*] = Special node (objective, exit, etc.)

3.5 Pane Dividers & Separators

Horizontal Divider (full width, row separator):

────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

(80 dashes)

Section Divider (lighter):

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————────────────────────

(80 em-dashes, or same as above depending on available charset)

Vertical Divider (between panes, column 39–41):

Column 39: │ (pipe character)
Column 40: (space)
Column 41: (space)

Or more prominently:

Column 39: ║ (double-line pipe, if charset supports)

Example: Split Pane with Dividers

Rows 2–22:
[>] Item 1        status │ [>] Item A        status
[ ] Item 2        status │ [ ] Item B        status
[ ] Item 3        status │ [ ] Item C        status

3.6 Tab Strips

Purpose: Switch between multiple views within the same context (e.g., mission board’s 5 tabs, NeonGrid’s grid/map/tactical views).

Format (Row 1, cols 0–78):

[ TAB_1 ] [ TAB_2 ] [ TAB_3 ] [ TAB_4 ] [ TAB_5 ]

or active tab highlighted:

[*TAB_1 ] [ TAB_2 ] [ TAB_3 ] [ TAB_4 ] [ TAB_5 ]

Width per Tab:

~15 characters per tab for 5 tabs = 75 chars used; 5 chars margin
Adjust based on number of tabs

Example (Mission Board):

[ ACTIVE ] [ ARCHIVE ] [ FAILED ] [ PENDING ] [ STATS ]

Active Tab Indicator:

Prefix with *: [*ACTIVE ] or
Use box: ┌───────┐ instead of [ ] for active tab
Color (conceptually amber highlight, rendered as bright text): not possible in monochrome, so rely on prefix/border

Navigation (Tab Switch):

Method 1: EQ key cycles tabs (left → right → left)
Method 2: Info key toggles tab menu above the content
Method 3: Dedicated SYS-key sub-menu (hold SYS, press numbered key)

Interaction:

User presses EQ (or designated tab-switch key)
Cursor/focus moves to next tab
Content area (rows 2–23) repopulates with new tab’s data
Audio: Soft “tab switch” tone (1.0 kHz, 100ms)

3.7 Data Tables

Purpose: Display lists of structured data (transactions, contracts, equipment, logs) with aligned columns.

Format (Rows 2–22, 21 rows max visible):

[>] COL1               COL2         COL3           COL4
[ ] Value1             Data1        Status         Amount
[ ] Value2             Data2        Status         Amount

Column Alignment Rules:

Column 1 (cols 0–1): Selection marker [>] or [ ]
Column 2 (cols 2–39): Primary data (left-aligned, 38 chars max)
Column 3 (cols 40–59): Secondary data (left-aligned, 20 chars)
Column 4 (cols 60–79): Tertiary/numeric (right-aligned, 20 chars)

Example: Transaction Table (Black Ledger)

ROW 0: Account ALPHA Transaction History       Date        Amount
ROW 1: ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ROW 2: [>] Wire Transfer: DELTA SYSTEMS        2026-04-10  ¤50,000
ROW 3: [ ] Deposit: Unknown source             2026-04-08  ¤25,000
ROW 4: [ ] Withdrawal: Sigma Corp              2026-04-05  ¤15,000
ROW 5: [ ] Interest payment                    2026-04-01  ¤1,200

Example: Equipment Table (Inventory)

ROW 0: INVENTORY              Charge   Installed  Cost
ROW 1: ─────────────────────────────────────────────────
ROW 2: [>] Slicer (v3)        6/8      Y          ¤4,000
ROW 3: [ ] Cracker (v2)       0/8      N          ¤6,000
ROW 4: [ ] Worm (v1)          2/8      Y          ¤2,000
ROW 5: [ ] Firewall Walker    8/8      Y          ¤8,000

Headers:

If needed, display column headers in row 1 (after pattern 1’s title row)
Use bold (conceptually) or spacing to distinguish headers from data
Align headers with columns below

3.8 ASCII Graphs & Maps

Node Map (for network topology, ICE Breaker, Nodespace):

Vertical Tree (text flow, top to bottom):

                        [ROOT]
                          |
                    [GATEWAY] – [ROUTER]
                     /       \
                [NODE1]    [NODE2]
                  / \         |
              [N1A] [N1B]  [N2A]

Horizontal Graph (text flow, left to right):

[START] ──> [NODE1] ──> [NODE2] ──> [EXIT]
              |            |
             [NODE1a]    [NODE2a]

Grid-Based Map (spatial 2D, for NeonGrid):

  0   1   2   3   4
0 [░] [░] [+] [░] [░]
1 [░] [█] [█] [█] [░]
2 [+] [█] [S] [█] [+]
3 [░] [█] [█] [█] [░]
4 [░] [░] [X] [░] [░]

[S] = start   [X] = objective   [+] = waypoint   [░] = empty   [█] = wall

Sonar/Heatmap (threat proximity, for ICE Breaker):

░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒▒▒▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░░▒▒███▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒███▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░▒▒███▓███▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒▒███▓███▒▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░
░░░░░▒████▓▓▓████▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░▒████▓▓▓████▒░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░

░ = cool (safe)   ▒ = warm (caution)   █ = hot (threat)   ▓ = critical (danger)

ASCII Art Constraints:

Use only ASCII characters (0–127) or extended box-drawing (see section 3.9)
Maximum width: 78 characters (leave cols 0–1 for selection marker if needed)
Represent dense data efficiently (each character is valuable)
Consider bitmap mode (Pattern 3 fallback) if ASCII becomes too cramped

3.9 Box Drawing & Borders

Single-Line Box:

┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ CONTENT AREA                           │
│                                        │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘

Double-Line Box (for emphasis):

╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ CRITICAL ALERT                         ║
║                                        ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

Partial Box (top & bottom only):

┌────────────────────────────────────────┐
 SECTION TITLE
 Content line 1
 Content line 2
└────────────────────────────────────────┘

Box-Drawing Characters:

┌ = top-left corner
┐ = top-right corner
└ = bottom-left corner
┘ = bottom-right corner
─ = horizontal line
│ = vertical line
├ = left tee
┤ = right tee
┬ = top tee
┴ = bottom tee
┼ = cross

╔ = double top-left
╗ = double top-right
╚ = double bottom-left
╝ = double bottom-right
═ = double horizontal
║ = double vertical

Example: Modal Alert

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [!] NETWORK COMPROMISED                                                        ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║ Your intrusion signature has been detected by ICE HUNTER.                       ║
║ Threat level escalated to 5/5.                                                 ║
║                                                                                 ║
║ RECOMMEND: Retreat immediately or engage evasion protocol.                     ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║ [EVAL to continue] [BACK to abort]                                             ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Purpose: Confirmation prompts, critical alerts, hot swap requests, runtime-level dialogs that demand the operator’s attention on the main grid.

Scope note (2026-04-24): Earlier revisions of this section listed “Cipher voice announcements” as a modal use case. That is superseded. Cipher utterances appear only on CIPHER-LINE (§3A CIPHER-LINE; Spec Hygiene Rule 6). Modals are for runtime-level interactive prompts that need a main-grid response — they are not Cipher’s surface.

Layout:

Rows 0–23: Faded/unchanged (background)
Rows 7–17: Modal box (11 rows, centered vertically, overlaid)
           Cols 2–77: Modal content (76 chars wide, centered horizontally)

Format:

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [ICON] TITLE                                                                   ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║                                                                                 ║
║  Message text, wrapped to ~70 characters per line. May span multiple lines.     ║
║  nOSh-runtime-level interactive prompts only.                                  ║
║                                                                                 ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║                    [EVAL=continue] [BACK=cancel]                               ║
║                                                                                 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Icon Options:

[!] = Alert / Warning
[*] = Announcement / Info
[√] = Success / Confirmation
[×] = Error / Failure
[?] = Query / Question
[◈] = Processing / Loading

The [▶] “Cipher Voice” icon that appeared in earlier revisions is retired on the main grid. Cipher commentary renders on CIPHER-LINE (§3A CIPHER-LINE) and has its own visual conventions there.

Example: Confirmation Prompt

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [?] BID ON CONTRACT?                                                           ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║                                                                                 ║
║  INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE — ¤15,000 payout, 8-minute time limit, threat 4/5.     ║
║  Accept this contract? Once accepted, you cannot back out without penalty.      ║
║                                                                                 ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║                   [EVAL=accept] [BACK=decline]                                 ║
║                                                                                 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Example: Hot Swap Request (Multi-Phase Mission)

╔════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║ [*] PHASE 2/3: REQUIRES SIGNAL MODULE                                          ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║                                                                                 ║
║  Current phase requires the SIGNAL cartridge. Your options:                     ║
║   1. Swap cartridge (manual: physically replace module)                         ║
║   2. Select from library (simulated: choose from installed cartridges)          ║
║   3. Defer mission (put this contract on hold until you have the module)        ║
║                                                                                 ║
║────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────║
║              [CAR=select] [QUOTE=defer] [BACK=abort mission]                   ║
║                                                                                 ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Audio on Modal:

Open modal: Ascending tone (1.2 kHz, 150ms) + brief silence
User response (CAR): Confirmation tone (1.5 kHz, 100ms)
Close modal: Descending tone (900 Hz, 100ms)

3.11 Scrolling Text Areas

Purpose: Display long-form main-grid content — mission briefings, technical logs, cartridge-authored narrative text. Cipher utterances are not routed through this pattern; they render on CIPHER-LINE (§3A CIPHER-LINE).

Format (Rows 2–22, 21 rows visible):

Row 1: [TEXT AREA TITLE]
Row 2: ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Rows 3–22: [Text content, left-aligned, wrapped]
Row 23: [Scrolling indicator: "▼ 3 more lines" or "↑ 5 lines above"]
Row 24: [ACTION BAR: CDR=scroll BACK=exit QUOTE=save]

Text Wrapping:

Width: 78 characters per line
If a word exceeds 78 chars, break mid-word and hyphenate (rare; use short words)
Blank lines between paragraphs (double newline → single blank row)

Scrolling Behavior:

CDR scrolls down 5 rows per press (or to end if fewer than 5 rows remain)
CONS scrolls up 5 rows (or to top)
Row 23 shows scrolling status:
- Top of text: [Start of message]
- Middle: ▼ 8 more lines (lines remaining below)
- Bottom: [End of message]

Example: Mission Briefing (nOSh-runtime-authored, main grid)

Row 1: MISSION BRIEFING: INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE
Row 2: ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Row 3: Your target is SIGMA NODE, a secondary command hub for Delta Systems.
Row 4: Intelligence suggests the encryption keys are stored in partition 7.
Row 5:
Row 6: The network has moderate ICE presence: BLACK class on the gateway, with
Row 7: JUNK scattered through secondary nodes. Time limit is 8 minutes. The HUNTER
Row 8: algorithm activates after 3 visits to the same node—plan your routing.
Row 9:
Row 10: You're cleared for non-destructive infiltration. The data must remain intact.
Row 11: Alerts escalate threat level. Reach 3 alerts, the whole network collapses.
Row 12:
Row 13: REWARDS:
Row 14:  • Perfect (0 alerts): ¤18,000 + reputation boost
Row 15:  • Clean (1–2 alerts): ¤15,000
Row 16:  • Compromised (3+ alerts): ¤8,000
Row 17:
Row 23: ▼ 2 more lines
Row 24: CDR=scroll BACK=exit QUOTE=save EVAL=start

3A. CIPHER-LINE Auxiliary Display

The CIPHER-LINE OLED mounted above the keyboard is a separate rendering surface from the main 80×25 grid. Every Cipher voice utterance is emitted here and only here. Every pattern in §1–§3 above applies to the main grid; the patterns in this section apply to CIPHER-LINE and nowhere else. See docs/architecture/KN-86-CIPHER-LINE-Grammar-Framework.md for the grammar engine; see CLAUDE.md Canonical Hardware Specification for the physical display spec.

3A.1 Four-Row Layout

CIPHER-LINE is presented to cartridges as four logical rows. The font is rendered at Press Start 2P’s native 8×8 (no vertical scaling applied — the OLED’s vertical pixel budget allows native-cell rendering distinct from the main grid’s 12×24). Each row accommodates ~32 character cells.

Row 1  [status strip]                (nOSh-runtime-owned; cart may write via aux-status-render)
Row 2  [Cipher scrollback — line A]  (Cipher-engine-owned; current fragment)
Row 3  [Cipher scrollback — line B]  (Cipher-engine-owned; previous fragment echo)
Row 4  [contextual]                  (nOSh-runtime-owned; cart may write via aux-status-render)

Row 1 (status strip). nOSh runtime defaults: time of session (MM:SS), link state if applicable (LNK), cart tag, operator handle short form, beat marker. Cartridges may override with (aux-status-render 1 "..." :priority N); the nOSh-runtime-owned default resumes when the cart releases the row.

Rows 2–3 (Cipher scrollback). nOSh-runtime-exclusive. Cart code cannot write here; the only path to this row pair is (cipher-emit ...) and (cipher-push-event ...), which feed the grammar engine. Row 2 is the current fragment. When the engine emits a new fragment, Row 2’s contents move up to Row 3 (previous line echo) and the new fragment appears on Row 2. Silent ticks do not cause a shift — Row 2 and Row 3 hold across silent ticks, giving the operator time to read.

Row 4 (contextual). nOSh runtime defaults: chord hints relevant to the current main-grid context, swap countdown if an aux-timer-* is running, TERM: CAPTURE hint when CIPHER-LINE is in seed-capture mode. Cartridges may override with (aux-status-render 4 "..." :priority N) — for example, a Marty Glitch contract might pin STN 88.5 MHz to Row 4 while a broadcast hijack is active.

3A.2 Scroll and Pause Behavior

The scroll model is echo-pair, not continuous. Row 2 and Row 3 form a two-line window that updates one row at a time, cadence-matched to Cipher utterances:

New non-silent utterance: Row 3 ← Row 2, Row 2 ← new fragment. One-shot transition at ~120 ms fade (OLED-hardware-friendly; matches rendering loop in ADR-0015).
Silent tick: no movement; Row 2 and Row 3 hold.
Repeat-suppressed utterance: same as silent (the grammar engine rejects duplicates via the coherence-stack check, §9 of the Grammar Framework).
Pause on anomaly: utterances tagged :anomalous hold on Row 2 for the duration of the current beat plus 2 seconds before the next utterance can overwrite. This ensures the operator’s peripheral registers anomalous beats without rushing.

No horizontal scrolling within Rows 2–3 — if a fragment exceeds ~32 characters, the grammar clips the expansion at load (it’s a bug in the grammar if a fragment overflows; the engine logs such cases to boot diagnostic). Row 1 and Row 4 do ticker per §3A.3.

3A.3 Row-Overflow Ticker (Rows 1 and 4 Only)

Rows 1 and 4 hold strings that the nOSh runtime or carts write via aux-status-render. These rows may legitimately need to carry content longer than 32 chars (long operator handles, verbose beat markers, long contextual hints like TERM: CAPTURE // ANY KEY: DISMISS).

Ticker semantics:

If the string fits the row budget, render statically.
If it exceeds the budget, the row enters ticker mode: the string scrolls left-to-right at 2 characters per second, pauses for 1 second at the end, wraps, pauses 1 second at the start, repeats.
While tickering, the row does not clip — the full string is legible over one ticker cycle (~8 seconds for a 48-char string).
aux-status-render with a new string resets the ticker; priority rules (§11 of Grammar Framework) determine which cart/nOSh-runtime string wins when multiple writers contend.
Ticker behavior is local to Rows 1 and 4. Rows 2 and 3 never ticker — the grammar engine must fit fragments within budget.

3A.4 CIPHER-LINE Pattern Catalogue

These are the reusable CIPHER-LINE patterns. They are orthogonal to the main-grid patterns in §1–§3.

3A-Pattern-A: Ambient

The default state. No cart special rendering. Row 1 shows nOSh runtime status. Rows 2–3 show the two most recent non-silent Cipher utterances (possibly stale from a previous beat). Row 4 shows nOSh-runtime-default chord hints for the current main-grid context.

Row 1  02:14  LNK  ICE  KINOSHITA  :active-hack
Row 2  trace. watches.
Row 3  node.
Row 4  CAR drill  CDR next  INFO orient

3A-Pattern-B: Tense Beat

When beat flips to :high-tense, the mode selector biases toward silence. Rows 2–3 hold (may freeze for many seconds). Row 1 may show an intensified status. Row 4 may pin a countermeasure hint.

Row 1  02:47  LNK  ICE  KINOSHITA  :high-tense  TRC 32
Row 2  same node. black ice. sector 7.
Row 3  trace. watches.
Row 4  EVAL commit  BACK retreat  QUOTE hot-swap

Rows 2–3 may stay like this for 10+ seconds while Cipher elects silence. That is the mode working. The operator feels it.

3A-Pattern-C: Phase Transition

Beat flips to :phase-transition. Mode selector biases toward reflect. Expect chained utterances over 3–5 ticks that tie current phase to past events.

Row 1  03:55  LNK  ICE  KINOSHITA  :phase-transition  P2/3
Row 2  same corridor. the wreck at three-fifty.
Row 3  hull breached. pressure spike.
Row 4  EVAL advance phase

3A-Pattern-D: Cart-Swap Lull

Beat flips to :cart-swap-lull on pull; beat stays there for 2–5 ticks after the new cart loads. Mode selector biases heavily toward drift. Row 1 shows the pre-swap cart’s tag briefly, then the new tag. Row 4 pins the swap countdown.

Row 1  04:12  LNK  (swap)  KINOSHITA  :cart-swap-lull
Row 2  last one. mirror. black ice. clean.
Row 3  same node. black ice. sector 7.
Row 4  SWAP: 00:05

3A-Pattern-E: Seed Capture

Cart calls (aux-show-seed ...). CIPHER-LINE enters seed capture mode. Row 1 displays the seed with a label. Row 4 pins TERM: CAPTURE. Rows 2–3 continue their normal echo-pair behavior (Cipher keeps speaking during capture; the seed is Row 1’s job). Operator presses TERM to persist the seed to Universal Deck State. See KN-86-Input-System-Architecture.md for the interaction flow.

Row 1  SEED  A7 F3 91 0C 88 22 5E 14
Row 2  took the handshake.
Row 3  same relay. three sessions back.
Row 4  TERM: CAPTURE   BACK: DISMISS

3A-Pattern-F: Silent

Mission-critical silence. Cart or nOSh runtime has explicitly requested (cipher-emit :silent) on a reverent beat. Rows 2–3 hold. Row 1 and Row 4 may still update. The deck has chosen to not speak. Do not fill it.

Row 1  05:02  LNK  DEP  KINOSHITA  :high-tense
Row 2  same pressure. the wreck at three-fifty.
Row 3  hull breached.
Row 4  EVAL commit  BACK retreat

Rows 2–3 here are from 8 seconds ago. The Cipher has not spoken since. That is by design.

3A.5 What CIPHER-LINE Is Not For

Not for cartridge-authored text that isn’t Cipher voice. If a cart wants to surface data to the operator (mission description, tool readout, contract details), it renders on the main grid, not CIPHER-LINE.
Not for persistent display of main-grid state. Row 1 may summarize, but the canonical state lives on Row 0 of the main grid.
Not a notification center. Critical nOSh runtime notifications use main-grid modals (§3.10) or inline status (§3.1). Cipher reflects on events; it does not alert.
Not a chat log. Rows 2–3 are an ephemeral echo pair, not a scrollback for the operator to review. Extended Cipher review lives in Null (§ Null Gameplay Spec), which reads the memory store and coherence stack into a main-grid panel.

3A.6 Separating Main-Grid Patterns from CIPHER-LINE Patterns

Throughout this document, any pattern that used to involve “Cipher voice on the main grid” has been retired or redirected. The separation rules:

Surface	Patterns
Main 80×25 grid	§1 Screen Architecture, §2 Navigation Grammar, §3 Standard HUD. Patterns 3.1 through 3.11 apply here. Modals (3.10) are for nOSh runtime prompts, not Cipher.
CIPHER-LINE OLED	§3A above. Patterns 3A-A through 3A-F apply here. Cartridges never draw pixels; they only push events and contribute grammar.

Gameplay specs that previously placed Cipher utterances in main-grid modals, main-grid scrolling text areas, or dialogue boxes have been rewritten to move those beats to CIPHER-LINE — see the module specs in docs/gameplay-specs/ for each module’s new CIPHER-LINE Contributions section (vocabulary pool, production fragments, mode-weight biases the cart declares).

4. Typography & Symbolism

4.1 Character Conventions

Currency:

¤ = Currency symbol (e.g., ¤8,400)

Numeric Formatting:

1,234 = Thousands separator (commas)
12.34 = Decimal values (e.g., ¤12.34 rare; usually ¤12 or ¤1,234)
1% = Percentage sign

Time Format:

MM:SS = Minutes:Seconds (e.g., 8:45)
H:MM = Hours:Minutes (e.g., 2:34, not 02:34)
HH:MM:SS = Full format (e.g., 1:23:45) for long-running contracts

Module Abbreviations (tight spaces, 4 chars max):

ICEBREAKER     → ICE  (network intrusion)
SIGNAL         → SIG  (signal tracking, decryption)
LEDGER         → LEG  (forensic accounting)
GRID           → GRD  (spatial operations)
VAULT          → VLT  (knowledge index)
CIPHER         → CIP  (cryptographic tools)
DEPTHCHARGE    → DCG  (maritime reconnaissance)
DRIFT          → DRF  (signal tracking, secondary)

Status Abbreviations:

ACTIVE   → ACT
PENDING  → PND
ARCHIVE  → ARC
FAILED   → FAI
SUCCESS  → SUC
LOCKED   → LCK

4.2 Threat Level Visual Vocabulary

5-Level Escalation (combined text + bar):

Level 1 (Green, Safe):

THREAT ░░░░░░░░░░ 1/5 SAFE

Level 2 (Yellow, Caution):

THREAT ██░░░░░░░░ 2/5 CAUTION

Level 3 (Orange, Alert):

THREAT ████░░░░░░ 3/5 ALERT

Level 4 (Red, Danger):

THREAT ██████░░░░ 4/5 DANGER

Level 5 (Critical):

THREAT ██████████ 5/5 CRITICAL

ICE Type Threat Codes (single-letter):

J = JUNK ICE (threat 1)
B = BLACK ICE (threat 2–3)
R = RED ICE (threat 4–5)
H = HUNTER ICE (threat 4–5, mobile)

4.3 Glyphs & Icon Sets

Selection & Focus:

[ ] = Unselected item
[>] = Selected item (focused)
[◊] = Bookmarked / Flagged item
[*] = Active / Current item
[+] = New / Added item

Status Indicators:

[■] = Active / Loaded / Running
[□] = Inactive / Unloaded / Idle
[◈] = Processing / Loading / Transitioning
[!] = Alert / Warning / Exception
[×] = Error / Failed / Locked
[√] = Success / Verified / Complete

Navigation Arrows (in nested/tree contexts):

[▶] = Collapsed (can expand)
[▼] = Expanded (can collapse)
> = Next item (in progress indicators)

Grid Cells (Pattern 3):

[░] = Empty / Open / Passable
[█] = Occupied / Locked / Blocked
[+] = Node / Waypoint / Objective location
[*] = Special / Important / Starting position
[!] = Hazard / Warning / Danger zone
[-] = Connection / Link / Path
[~] = Uncertain / Shadowed / Unknown

4.4 Key Naming (for display in action bars)

Canonical Key Names (used in action bar):

CAR     (enter, drill)
CDR     (next, traverse)
CONS    (combine, link)
NIL     (clear, discard)
EVAL    (execute, confirm) — usually rendered as just "EVAL"
QUOTE   (bookmark, defer)
LAMBDA  (macro record) — rare in UI hints; usually hidden
APPLY   (use, deploy)
ATOM    (test atomic) — rare in UI hints
EQ      (compare) — rare in UI hints
BACK    (return, cancel, abort)
INFO    (inspect, observe, detail)
LINK    (transmit, egress)
SYS     (system menu, hard cancel)

Numpad Keys (rendered as numbers):

0–9, ., ENT (enter), +, -, *, /

5. Sound Design Palette

5.1 Standard Audio Events

All cartridges share a common audio event vocabulary, routed through YM2149 Voice 1, 2, and 3.

Voice Channel Assignment (across all modules):

Voice 1: Navigation / UI feedback (key presses, cursor movement)
Voice 2: Gameplay / Action events (attacks, tool use, status changes)
Voice 3: Ambient / Tension (threat level, time pressure, background)

5.2 Kepress Confirmation Tones

Navigation Keys (CDR, cursor movement):

Frequency: 1.0–1.2 kHz
Duration: 50ms
Envelope: Attack=5ms, Release=45ms (short, crisp)
Channel: Voice 1
Example: 1.0 kHz 50ms

Confirm/Drill Keys (CAR, EVAL, APPLY):

Frequency: 1.5 kHz
Duration: 100ms
Envelope: Attack=5ms, Sustain=70ms, Release=25ms (slightly longer)
Channel: Voice 1
Example: 1.5 kHz 100ms

Error/Cancel (NIL, BACK, SYS):

Frequency: 800 Hz
Duration: 100ms
Envelope: Attack=5ms, Release=95ms (descending feel)
Channel: Voice 1
Example: 800 Hz 100ms

Special Keys (QUOTE, CONS, LINK):

Frequency: 1.8 kHz
Duration: 80ms
Envelope: Attack=2ms, Release=78ms (high and quick)
Channel: Voice 1
Example: 1.8 kHz 80ms

5.3 Gameplay Audio Events

(These are cartridge-specific; here are common archetypes)

Success Tone:

Frequency sequence: 1.2 kHz (100ms) → 1.5 kHz (100ms)
Total: 200ms
Envelope: Smooth transitions
Channel: Voice 2

Failure Tone:

Frequency sequence: 1.5 kHz (100ms) → 1.0 kHz (100ms) → 800 Hz (100ms)
Total: 300ms (descending)
Envelope: Smooth transitions
Channel: Voice 2

Alert/Escalation:

Frequency: 1.8 kHz
Duration: 150ms
Envelope: Attack=20ms, Release=130ms (builds then fades)
Pitch bend (optional): Start at 1.5 kHz, rise to 1.8 kHz over 150ms
Channel: Voice 2

Threat Indicator (looping, for tension):

Frequency: 1.0–1.5 kHz (sweeping)
Duration: ~500ms per cycle
Envelope: Continuous, no decay
Channel: Voice 3 (ambient)

5.4 Phase Transition Sounds

Phase Completion (user reached objective):

Frequency sequence: 1.2 kHz → 1.5 kHz → 1.8 kHz
Duration per note: 150ms
Total: 450ms (ascending “victory” chord)
Channel: Voice 2

Phase Start (entering new phase):

Frequency: 1.2 kHz
Duration: 100ms (single tone)
Followed by: 200ms silence
Followed by: Cartridge-specific intro tone (varies per module)
Channel: Voice 1 (brief), then Voice 2 (intro)

Hot Swap Notification (physical cartridge swap required):

Frequency sequence: 800 Hz (100ms) → 1.2 kHz (100ms) → 1.5 kHz (100ms)
Total: 300ms (ascending, distinct from success)
Channel: Voice 1

5.5 Module-Specific Channels

Each cartridge reserves Voice assignments for its own gameplay:

Example: ICE Breaker

Voice 1: Navigation (shared)
Voice 2: Combat events (tool attacks, ICE counterattacks)
Voice 3: Threat scanner (sweeping tone, escalates with threat level)

Example: Black Ledger

Voice 1: Navigation (shared)
Voice 2: Transaction alerts, payout notifications
Voice 3: Ambient ticking clock (time pressure)

Example: NeonGrid

Voice 1: Navigation (shared)
Voice 2: Movement/action feedback
Voice 3: Ambient spatial tone (depth/distance representation)

6. Interaction State Machine

6.1 Standard State Transitions

Standard Flow:

START (boot)
  ↓
IDLE (waiting for input)
  ↓
[User presses key]
  ↓
INPUT_DISPATCH (key routing)
  ├→ Navigation Key (CDR, CAR, etc.)
  │   └→ UPDATE_STATE (move cursor, change selection)
  │   └→ AUDIO_FEEDBACK (key tone)
  │   └→ RENDER (redraw screen)
  │   └→ IDLE
  │
  ├→ Action Key (EVAL, APPLY)
  │   └→ EXECUTE_ACTION (cartridge handler)
  │   └→ AUDIO_FEEDBACK (action tone)
  │   └→ STATE_CHANGE (new phase, new view, etc.)
  │   └→ IDLE or WAIT_RESULT
  │
  └→ System Key (BACK, SYS, INFO)
      └→ SYSTEM_HANDLER (return, menu, inspect)
      └→ AUDIO_FEEDBACK
      └→ IDLE

WAIT_RESULT (async operation)
  ├→ OPERATION_COMPLETE
  │   └→ UPDATE_STATE (apply result)
  │   └→ AUDIO_FEEDBACK
  │   └→ RENDER
  │   └→ IDLE
  │
  └→ OPERATION_TIMEOUT (if time-limited)
      └→ FAIL_HANDLER
      └→ AUDIO_FEEDBACK (error tone)
      └→ IDLE

Context: User browsing a contract list (Pattern 1)

STATE: LIST_VIEW
├─ data = list of contracts
├─ cursor_position = 0 (first item)
├─ view_offset = 0 (window start in list)

KEY: CDR (next)
  ├─ IF cursor_position < list.length - 1:
  │    └─ cursor_position += 1
  │    └─ AUDIO: navigation tone (1.0 kHz, 50ms)
  │    └─ IF cursor_position > view_offset + 19:
  │        └─ view_offset += 1  (scroll window)
  │    └─ RENDER (redraw list with new cursor position)
  │
  └─ ELSE (at end of list):
      └─ cursor_position = 0 (wrap to top)
      └─ view_offset = 0
      └─ AUDIO: boundary tone (1.5 kHz, 100ms, pitch slightly lower)
      └─ RENDER

KEY: CAR (enter)
  └─ AUDIO: confirm tone (1.5 kHz, 100ms)
  └─ PHASE_CHANGE: LIST_VIEW → DETAIL_VIEW (inspector)
  └─ RENDER (new screen: contract details)

KEY: INFO (inspect)
  └─ IF single-tap AND info_available:
  │    └─ DISPLAY_SUMMARY (action bar shows brief summary)
  │    └─ NO STATE CHANGE
  │
  └─ ELSE IF double-tap:
      └─ PHASE_CHANGE: LIST_VIEW → DETAIL_VIEW (full inspector)
      └─ RENDER (pattern 5)

KEY: BACK (return)
  └─ AUDIO: cancel tone (800 Hz, 100ms)
  └─ PHASE_CHANGE: LIST_VIEW → PARENT_VIEW
  └─ RENDER (mission board or hub)

KEY: QUOTE (bookmark)
  └─ AUDIO: special tone (1.8 kHz, 80ms)
  └─ bookmarks.add(contracts[cursor_position])
  └─ RENDER (mark with [◊] instead of [ ])
  └─ STATE: LIST_VIEW (unchanged)

Context: nOSh-runtime-level prompt interrupts current gameplay. Typical cases: hot-swap request, confirmation prompt, critical system alert. Cipher utterances do NOT interrupt. Cipher renders to CIPHER-LINE without stealing focus from the main grid (see §3A CIPHER-LINE) — that is the whole point of the auxiliary surface.

STATE: ACTIVE_PHASE (user in mission)
  └─ Current screen: Pattern 6 combat or Pattern 5 inspector

INTERRUPT: NOSh_Runtime_Prompt_Required  (hot-swap, confirmation, alert)
  ├─ audio_queue: prompt tone
  ├─ PAUSE_INPUT (user cannot interact with main screen)
  ├─ STATE: MODAL_DISPLAYED
  │   ├─ overlay: nOSh runtime prompt (Pattern 3.10 modal)
  │   ├─ action_bar: "EVAL=continue"
  │   └─ AUDIO: fade background (lower volume -6dB), play prompt tone
  │
  └─ KEY: EVAL (continue)
      ├─ AUDIO: confirm tone (1.5 kHz, 100ms)
      ├─ STATE: ACTIVE_PHASE (resume)
      ├─ RESUME_INPUT
      ├─ AUDIO: restore background volume
      └─ RENDER (main screen restored)

ALT: KEY: SYS (hard cancel, hold 2 seconds)
  ├─ AUDIO: alarm tone (1.0 kHz rising to 1.8 kHz over 2 seconds)
  ├─ STATE: SYSTEM_MENU
  └─ OPTIONS: Abort mission, save, exit

PARALLEL (non-interrupting): Cipher_Utterance
  └─ CIPHER-LINE renders per §3A CIPHER-LINE.
     No pause. No focus shift. Main grid is untouched.

6.4 Split Pane Focus Switch

Context: Black Ledger dual-pane transaction view

STATE: DUAL_PANE_VIEW
├─ left_pane: Account A transactions
├─ right_pane: Account B transactions
├─ focused_pane: LEFT (default)
├─ left_cursor: 0
├─ right_cursor: 0

KEY: CDR (traverse)
  ├─ IF focused_pane == LEFT:
  │    └─ left_cursor += 1 (advance in left)
  │    └─ AUDIO: nav tone (1.0 kHz, 50ms)
  │    └─ RENDER (left pane redraws)
  │
  └─ ELSE (focused_pane == RIGHT):
      └─ right_cursor += 1
      └─ AUDIO: nav tone
      └─ RENDER (right pane redraws)

KEY: CAR (enter)
  └─ IF focused_pane == LEFT:
  │    └─ Inspect left item (Inspector pattern 5)
  │
  └─ ELSE:
      └─ Inspect right item

KEY: CONS (link)
  ├─ IF left_cursor > -1 AND right_cursor > -1:
  │    └─ AUDIO: link tone (descending pair: 1.2 → 800 Hz, 150ms)
  │    └─ link_table.add(left_item, right_item)
  │    └─ RENDER (mark both selections as linked)
  │
  └─ ELSE:
      └─ AUDIO: error tone (800 Hz, 100ms)
      └─ ACTION_BAR: "Select items in both panes to link"

ALT: EQ (switch focus)
  ├─ focused_pane = (focused_pane == LEFT) ? RIGHT : LEFT
  ├─ AUDIO: focus switch tone (1.5 kHz, 100ms)
  └─ RENDER (action bar updates to show new focused pane)

Context: ICE Breaker node map or NeonGrid spatial operations

STATE: GRID_VIEW
├─ grid: 8×8 node array
├─ cursor_x: 4 (center)
├─ cursor_y: 4 (center)

KEY: CDR (cycle adjacent)
  ├─ CYCLE: [cursor.x, cursor.y] → next cell (clockwise)
  ├─ AUDIO: spatial scan tone (pitch based on position)
  └─ RENDER (highlight new cell with border)

Alternative: Cardinal Movement (if supported)
  ├─ UP: cursor_y -= 1 (wraps if at top)
  ├─ DOWN: cursor_y += 1 (wraps if at bottom)
  ├─ LEFT: cursor_x -= 1 (wraps if at left)
  ├─ RIGHT: cursor_x += 1 (wraps if at right)
  └─ AUDIO: different tone per direction (ascending right, descending left, etc.)

KEY: CAR (enter cell)
  ├─ grid[cursor_y][cursor_x].on_enter()
  ├─ IF cell.has_content:
  │    └─ PHASE_CHANGE: GRID_VIEW → DETAIL_VIEW or COMBAT (Pattern 6)
  │
  └─ ELSE:
      └─ AUDIO: blocked tone (1.0 kHz, 100ms)
      └─ RENDER (cursor stays on current cell)

KEY: INFO (scan)
  └─ DISPLAY: Cell details in action bar or modal
  │    └─ "JUNK ICE, STRENGTH 2, NO SUBDIR, SAFE"
  └─ STATE: GRID_VIEW (unchanged)

KEY: QUOTE (bookmark)
  └─ AUDIO: special tone (1.8 kHz, 80ms)
  └─ grid[cursor_y][cursor_x].bookmarked = true
  └─ RENDER (mark cell with [◊] if uses symbol, or border change)

KEY: ATOM (test terminal)
  └─ IF cell.is_terminal:
  │    └─ AUDIO: success tone (ascending)
  │    └─ ACTION_BAR: "TERMINAL NODE"
  │
  └─ ELSE:
      └─ AUDIO: failure tone (descending)
      └─ ACTION_BAR: "NODE HAS CHILDREN"

6.6 Error Handling & Recovery

State: Operation Fails (e.g., attack rejected, data corrupted)

STATE: ACTIVE_PHASE (user executing action)

ACTION: CAR (attack node with wrong tool)
  ├─ node.on_attack(current_tool)
  ├─ result: FAIL (wrong tool type)
  │
  ├─ AUDIO: error tone (800 Hz, 100ms, low pitch)
  ├─ STATE: ERROR_DISPLAY (temporary modal)
  │   ├─ overlay: "[!] ATTACK FAILED: Tool ineffective against this ICE"
  │   └─ action_bar: "EVAL=continue"
  │
  └─ KEY: EVAL (acknowledge)
      ├─ AUDIO: confirm (1.5 kHz, 100ms)
      ├─ STATE: ACTIVE_PHASE (resume)
      ├─ CLOSE_MODAL
      └─ RENDER (main view unchanged)

STATE: Operation Timeout

ACTION: Time limit exceeded during mission
  ├─ mission.time_remaining <= 0
  ├─ AUDIO: escalating alarm (frequency rises from 1.0 → 1.8 kHz over 300ms)
  ├─ STATE: TIMEOUT_MODAL
  │   ├─ overlay: "[!] TIME EXPIRED: Mission collapse imminent"
  │   └─ action_bar: "EVAL=continue BACK=abort"
  │
  ├─ KEY: EVAL (accept consequences)
  │    └─ mission.payout *= 0.5  (half payout for timeout)
  │    └─ mission.reputation *= 0.75  (reputation penalty)
  │    └─ PHASE_CHANGE: DEBRIEF
  │
  └─ KEY: BACK (abort mission)
      └─ mission.payout = 0
      └─ mission.reputation *= 0.5  (failure penalty)
      └─ PHASE_CHANGE: MISSION_BOARD

7. Cartridge-Specific Customization Points

7.1 Mandatory Standard Components

These elements MUST be consistent across all cartridges. Cartridges may NOT customize them:

Status Bar (Row 0): Operator handle, credits, reputation, threat/time. Format defined in section 3.1. Cartridge can add ONE module-specific indicator (e.g., alert level, connection strength).
Mission Board & Contract Selection: The nOSh runtime owns the mission board UI. All contracts display in Pattern 1 list with standard columns: threat level, payout, phase count. Cartridge templates define CONTRACT_CELL content; UI frame is standard.
Phase Chain Navigation: The nOSh runtime owns phase transitions, cartridge swaps (if multi-phase), debrief screen. Cartridge cannot customize the hot swap modal or phase numbering.
Cipher Voice Rendering (CIPHER-LINE): The nOSh runtime owns the Cipher engine and renders every utterance onto CIPHER-LINE (§3A CIPHER-LINE). Cartridges contribute a cipher-grammar block (vocabulary, production fragments, mode-weight biases) per docs/architecture/KN-86-CIPHER-LINE-Grammar-Framework.md. Cartridges never draw Cipher text on the main grid and never render pixels to CIPHER-LINE directly — that is the nOSh runtime’s rendering loop.
Action Bar (Row 24): Format and key hints are standardized. Cartridge can customize hints’ text but must adhere to 80-char limit and avoid inventing new key bindings.
Deck State & Economy: All cartridges use universal credits (¤), reputation (0–50+), and cartridge history bitfield. Cartridge cannot introduce parallel currencies or economies.

7.2 Highly Customizable Components

Cartridges have full freedom in these areas:

Active Phase Display (Rows 1–23): Cartridge owns the mission content. Can use any of the 6 screen patterns or invent new patterns (but keep them within the 80×25 grid and text-mode paradigm). Audio design is fully customizable (respecting Voice 1–3 channel conventions).
Contract Details (Detail Inspector, Pattern 5): Cartridge defines what fields appear in contract inspector (ICE Breaker: threat level, network size, countermeasure info; Black Ledger: entity profiles, transaction count, complexity).
Sound Design (Cartridge-Specific): Voice 2 and Voice 3 are reserved for the cartridge’s gameplay. Define unique tones for attacks, alerts, status changes, etc. Voice 1 (navigation) remains shared/standard.
Cell Architecture: Cartridge defines its own cell types (NODE_CELL, TOOL_CELL, TRANSACTION_CELL, etc.) with custom ON_CAR, ON_CDR, ON_EVAL handlers. The cartridge grammar defines the framework; cartridge code provides the behavior. (The CIPHER-LINE Grammar Framework is a separate, auxiliary-surface spec — see docs/architecture/KN-86-CIPHER-LINE-Grammar-Framework.md.)
Procedural Generation: Cartridge templates and generation algorithms are proprietary. The mission board framework (nOSh) instantiates contracts from cartridge templates; the template structure is up to the cartridge.

7.3 Customization Examples

ICE Breaker (Network Intrusion):

Standard: Mission board, contract selection, status bar (with ALERT level added)
Custom: Network map display (Pattern 3 grid), node combat (Pattern 6 real-time), threat scanner audio (Voice 3)

Black Ledger (Forensic Accounting):

Standard: Mission board, contract inspector, status bar
Custom: Dual-pane transaction view (Pattern 2), entity linking (CONS key semantics), transaction detail inspector

NeonGrid (Spatial Operations):

Standard: Mission board, status bar
Custom: Spatial grid display (Pattern 3), cardinal movement (not just CDR spiraling), 3-view toggle (grid/tactical/sonar), threat heatmap audio

The Vault (Knowledge Index):

Standard: Mission board, status bar
Custom: Hierarchical tree navigation (nested Pattern 1 lists), keyword search, data visualization (ASCII tree diagrams)

8. Reference Implementation: ICE Breaker

This section demonstrates how a cartridge implements the design system.

8.1 ICE Breaker Screen Layouts

Screen 1: Mission Board (nOSh Standard)

Row 0: NEXUS          ¤8,400 (5,000/day)   [PHASE 0/0]  TIME IDLE    REP 8   THR ░░░░░░░░░░
Row 1: AVAILABLE CONTRACTS
Rows 2–22: [List Pattern 1]
       [>] INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE                T4 ¤15,000
       [ ] FORENSIC DIVE: CIPHER CORP             T2 ¤8,000
       ... (more contracts)
Row 24: CAR=enter CDR=next BACK=exit INFO=detail EVAL=accept

Screen 2: Contract Inspector (Cartridge Custom)

Row 0: NEXUS          ¤8,400 (5,000/day)   [PHASE 0/0]  TIME IDLE    REP 8   THR ░░░░░░░░░░
Row 1: CONTRACT: INFILTRATE SIGMA NODE
Row 2: ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Row 3: Threat Level.............................4/5 (RED ICE)
Row 4: Network Size.............................8 nodes
Row 5: Time Limit...............................8:00
Row 6: Payout...................................¤15,000
Row 7: Phase....................................1/1
Row 8:
Row 9: OBJECTIVE:
Row 10: Retrieve encryption keys from node 7. Extract cleanly.
Row 11:
Row 12: ICE CONFIGURATION:
Row 13:  > 2× BLACK ICE (nodes 2, 5)
Row 14:  > 2× JUNK ICE (nodes 1, 3, 4, 6)
Row 15:  > 1× RED ICE (node 7 — exit guarded)
Row 16:
Row 17: COUNTERMEASURES:
Row 18:  > HUNTER spawns after 3 node revisits
Row 19:  > Alerts triggered on detection (2 permits collapse)
Row 20:
Row 21: REWARD SCALING:
Row 22:  > Perfect (0 alerts): ¤18,000 + rep
Row 23: [CDR for more | EVAL to accept]
Row 24: CAR=accept BACK=cancel QUOTE=defer CDR=scroll

Screen 3: Node Combat (Cartridge Custom, Pattern 6)

Row 0: NEXUS          ¤15,000             [PHASE 1/1]  TIME 2:34    REP 8   ICE ████░░░░░░
Row 1: NODE 5 — BLACK ICE DEFENSE
Rows 2–18: Combat encounter
       [JUNK] ─→ [BLACK*] ─→ [JUNK]
       (connected nodes)
        ↓        ↓          ↓
       [░]     [██] STR 3  [░]
Row 19: TIME ██████░░░░ 2:34
Row 20: THREAT ████░░░░░░ 4/5
Row 21: SLICER ████████░░ (6/8 loaded)
Row 22:
Row 24: CAR=attack CDR=target APPLY=slicer EVAL=exploit BACK=retreat

Screen 4: Network Overview (Cartridge Custom, Pattern 3 grid)

Row 0: NEXUS          ¤15,000             [PHASE 1/1]  TIME 5:15    REP 8   ICE ██░░░░░░░░
Row 1: NETWORK TOPOLOGY: SIGMA NODE
Rows 2–23: 8×8 node grid
       [S] [B] [J] [B] [J] [░] [░] [X]
       [░] [█] [█] [█] [█] [░] [░] [░]
       [░] [█] [G] [░] [░] [░] [█] [█]
       [░] [░] [░] [░] [R] [X] [░] [░]

       [S] = start
       [G] = goal (node 7)
       [X] = exit
       [B] = BLACK ICE
       [J] = JUNK ICE
       [R] = RED ICE
       [█] = firewall/wall
       [░] = empty/open
Row 24: CAR=enter CDR=move INFO=scan QUOTE=mark BACK=exit

8.2 Audio Events (ICE Breaker)

Voice 1 (Navigation) — Shared:

CDR (move cursor): 1.0 kHz, 50ms
CAR (enter node): 1.5 kHz, 100ms
BACK (retreat): 800 Hz, 100ms

Voice 2 (Combat) — Custom:

Attack with Slicer: 1.2 kHz, 150ms (crisp)
Attack with Cracker: 1.0 kHz, 200ms (slower)
Attack with Worm: 1.5 kHz descending to 1.0 kHz, 200ms (sweep)
ICE counterattack: 1.8 kHz, 100ms + burst of noise
Tool depleted: 800 Hz, 150ms (error)

Voice 3 (Threat) — Custom:

Threat scan: 1.0 kHz rising to 1.8 kHz, 500ms loop (spatial sweep)
Hunter spawned: Pulsing alarm, 400 Hz, 200ms on/off

9. Cross-Module Interaction Patterns

9.1 Shared Data Structures

Universal Deck State (64 bytes SRAM):

struct DeckState {
  uint8_t operator_handle[12];      // e.g., "NEXUS"
  uint32_t credit_balance;          // ¤ (universal currency)
  uint8_t reputation;               // 0–50+ (cumulative)
  uint16_t cartridge_history;       // Bitfield: which cartridges have been used
  uint16_t current_phase_chain;     // Phase sequence for multi-phase missions
  uint8_t lambda_slots[8][32];      // 8 macros × 32 steps each
  uint8_t quote_slots[16];          // 16 bookmarks
  uint8_t cipher_seed;              // Seed for Cipher voice generation
};

Cartridge History Bitfield (16 bits, one per module):

Bit 0  = ICE Breaker
Bit 1  = Depthcharge
Bit 2  = Shellfire
Bit 3  = Takezo
Bit 4  = Black Ledger
Bit 5  = SynthFence
Bit 6  = Drift
Bit 7  = Pathfinder
Bit 8  = Nodespace
Bit 9  = NeonGrid
Bit 10 = The Vault
Bit 11 = Cipher Garden
Bit 12 = Null
Bit 13 = Relay
Bits 14–15 = (reserved)

When a cartridge is first loaded, its bit is set in cartridge_history. Mission board uses this to unlock multi-phase contracts that require specific modules.

9.2 Cross-Module Mission Examples

Example 1: Multi-Phase Contract Spanning ICE Breaker + Signal

Phase 1 (ICE Breaker): Infiltrate network, retrieve encrypted payload.

Contract template: INFILTRATE_SIGMA_NODE
Cartridge: ICE Breaker
Mission board shows: “PHASE 1/2: Infiltrate — Requires ICE Breaker”

Phase 2 (Signal): Decrypt payload using signal module.

Contract template: DECRYPT_PAYLOAD
Cartridge: Signal (SIGNAL — not yet designed; placeholder)
Mission board shows: “PHASE 2/2: Decrypt — Requires SIGNAL”

Phase Chain Serialization (nOSh runtime):

phase_chain[0] = {
  module_id: ICE_BREAKER,
  template_id: INFILTRATE_SIGMA_NODE,
  status: ACTIVE
};
phase_chain[1] = {
  module_id: SIGNAL,
  template_id: DECRYPT_PAYLOAD,
  status: PENDING
};

User Flow:

Mission board shows contract with “2 PHASES” indicator
User presses CAR → Accept contract → Phase 1 begins (ICE Breaker loads)
Phase 1 gameplay → User completes objective → Debrief screen
The nOSh runtime detects phase_chain[1].status == PENDING
Hot Swap modal appears: “PHASE 2/2: DECRYPT PAYLOAD — Requires SIGNAL”
User selects SIGNAL module (simulated cartridge swap)
The nOSh runtime transitions to phase 2 → Signal module initializes
Phase 2 gameplay → Completion → Debrief
Mission complete → Payout + Reputation awarded to deck state

9.3 Interaction Example: ICE Breaker + Black Ledger

Scenario: User completes an ICE Breaker contract that pays ¤15,000. The reputation tier unlocks a high-level Black Ledger contract requiring forensic tracking of the same target.

Step 1: ICE Breaker Debrief

[√] INFILTRATION SUCCESSFUL
─────────────────────────────────
Payout: ¤15,000
Reputation: +3 (tier 2 advancement)
────────────────────────────────────
[EVAL=collect] [QUOTE=analyze]

Step 2: Deck State Update

deck_state.credit_balance += 15000;     // ¤8,400 → ¤23,400
deck_state.reputation += 3;             // 8 → 11 (crosses tier threshold)
deck_state.cartridge_history |= (1 << ICE_BREAKER_BIT);

Step 3: Return to Mission Board

The nOSh runtime regenerates mission board
New high-threat Black Ledger contracts now appear (gated by rep >= 10)
One contract references the infiltrated target: “TRACE SIGMA SHELL CORP ASSETS”

Step 4: Multi-Phase Opportunity

Black Ledger mission template includes RELATED_MODULE: ICE_BREAKER
Contract detail shows: “This target was first identified in [linked to previous mission]. Cross-module investigation available.”

10. Summary & Quick Reference

10.1 Pattern Selection Matrix

Task	Pattern	Row Allocation	Navigation
Browse contracts, items, logs	1. List Browser	Rows 2–22 (21 items)	CDR=cycle, CAR=enter, BACK=exit
Compare two entity streams	2. Split Pane	Rows 2–22 (left/right)	CDR=navigate focused pane, CONS=link
Spatial layout, topology, grid	3. Full Grid	Rows 2–18 (grid cells)	CDR=move adjacent, CAR=action, INFO=scan
Real-time status overview	4. Status Dashboard	Rows 1–23 (sections)	CDR=scroll sections, CAR=detail
Deep inspection, narrative, detail	5. Inspector	Rows 1–22 (focused)	CDR=scroll, CAR=accept, BACK=cancel
Time-pressured action, combat	6. Combat/Action Grid	Rows 2–20 (action arena)	CDR=target, CAR=attack, EVAL=special

10.2 Audio Event Checklist

Navigation key tone (CDR, cursor): 1.0 kHz, 50ms
Confirm key tone (CAR, EVAL): 1.5 kHz, 100ms
Cancel key tone (BACK, NIL): 800 Hz, 100ms
Special key tone (QUOTE, CONS): 1.8 kHz, 80ms
Modal open: Ascending tone (1.2 → 1.5 kHz)
Modal close: Descending tone (1.2 → 800 Hz)
Error feedback: 800 Hz, 150ms
Success feedback: Ascending sequence (1.2 → 1.5 → 1.8 kHz)
Phase transition: Unique module-specific tone

10.3 Mandatory Components Checklist

Row 0: Status bar (operator handle, credits, reputation, threat/time)
Row 24: Action bar (context-sensitive key hints, 80 chars max)
Rows 1–23: Content area (screen pattern of choice)
Selection cursor: [>] for active, [ ] for inactive, [◊] for bookmarked
Title row: Module/screen title
Dividers: Horizontal lines (dashes) between sections
Key binding consistency: CAR=enter, CDR=next, BACK=exit, EVAL=confirm

10.4 Reserved Key Semantics

Key	Must Meaning	Must Not Mean
CAR	Enter/drill/confirm single action	Cancel, go back, undo
CDR	Next/traverse/advance	Previous, go back
CONS	Combine/link two elements	Separate, delink
NIL	Clear/discard/empty	Confirm, proceed
EVAL	Execute/confirm big action	Navigate, preview
QUOTE	Bookmark/defer/mark	Execute, finalize
BACK	Return to parent/previous	Enter, drill, proceed
INFO	Inspect/observe/detail (summary)	Execute, confirm
APPLY	Use tool/item/consumable	Confirm main action
ATOM	Test if terminal/leaf (query)	Modify, change state
EQ	Compare two items (query)	Modify, link, combine
LINK	Transmit/egress/save externally	Local action, internal

11. Implementation Notes for Developers

11.1 Grid Width Reference

When designing screens with table columns or split panes:

Total width: 80 characters (cols 0–79)
Status bar (row 0): 15 + 15 + 12 + 10 + 9 + 18 = 79 chars (leaves 1 margin)
List item (pattern 1): Selection (2) + Name (58) + Secondary (20) = 80 chars
Split pane (pattern 2): Left (39) + Divider (1) + Margin (1) + Right (38) = 79 chars
Inspector (pattern 5): Key (30) + Divider (1) + Value (48) = 79 chars

11.2 Row Height Reference

When allocating screen space:

Status bar: Row 0 (fixed, always present)
Action bar: Row 24 (fixed, always present)
Content area: Rows 1–23 (23 rows available)
- Title: Row 1 (or shared row 1 with tab strip)
- Divider: 1 row (optional)
- Content: Remaining rows (can be 20–22 rows)

11.3 Monochrome Aesthetics

Since the KN-86 is amber-on-black monochrome:

Avoid assuming color. Use symbols, spacing, and typography to distinguish elements.
Highlight active/selected items with prefixes ([>], [◊]) or borders (box-drawing chars).
Use box-drawing characters (┌─┐ etc.) to create visual hierarchy, not color.
Indent nested content (2 or 3 spaces per level) for depth perception.

11.4 Accessibility (text-only environment)

Key names (CAR, CDR) should always be spelled out in action bars.
Status indicators should be text labels, not color-only. E.g., “THREAT 4/5 DANGER” not just a red bar.
Narrative text on the main grid (mission briefings, technical logs) should be readable at ~70 chars per line (natural reading width). Cipher utterances render on CIPHER-LINE (§3A) and are budget-limited to ~32 chars per row; their readability tuning is owned by the CIPHER-LINE Grammar Framework.
Avoid using only visual symbols; pair with text context.

12. Appendices

Appendix A: Typography Reference

Box Drawing Characters:

Single-line: ┌─┬─┐
             ├─┼─┤
             └─┴─┘

Double-line: ╔═╦═╗
             ╠═╬═╣
             ╚═╩═╝

Mixtures:    ┌─┬─┐     (top single, right double)
             ├─╫─┤
             └─┴─┘

Fill Characters:

█ U+2588 FULL BLOCK (100% filled)
▓ U+2593 DARK SHADE (75%)
▒ U+2592 MEDIUM SHADE (50%)
░ U+2591 LIGHT SHADE (25%)

Other Useful Glyphs:

▶ U+25B6 PLAY (next, collapsed)
▼ U+25BC PLAY DOWN (expanded)
◈ U+25C8 DIAMOND (processing)
◊ U+25CA DIAMOND OUTLINE (bookmarked)
√ U+221A SQUARE ROOT (success)
× U+00D7 MULTIPLICATION SIGN (error, locked)
→ U+2192 RIGHTWARDS ARROW (next, flow)
↓ U+2193 DOWNWARDS ARROW (more below)

Currency:

¤ U+00A4 CURRENCY SIGN
£ U+00A3 POUND (use ¤ instead for universal)
€ U+20AC EURO (use ¤ instead)

Appendix B: Default Key Mappings Recap

Left Grid (4 rows, 3 columns + spacebar):

Row 1: CAR    CDR    CONS
Row 2: NIL    EVAL   QUOTE
Row 3: LAMBDA APPLY  ATOM
Row 4: EQ     BACK   INFO
                         (EVAL extends as 3U spacebar)

Right Grid (4×4 phone-layout numpad + operator column):

Col 1-3: Numpad (0–9, ., ENT) — phone layout (ADR-0016 §5)
Col 4:   /, *, -, +

Row 1: 1 2 3 /
Row 2: 4 5 6 *
Row 3: 7 8 9 -
Row 4: . 0 ENT +

See docs/ui-design/KN-86-Input-System-Architecture.md §1 for the canonical data grid layout.

Appendix C: Common Cartridge Customization Checklist

When designing a new cartridge module, ensure:

UI Screens:

Mission board integration (use Pattern 1 with standard columns)
Contract inspector (Pattern 5, cartridge-specific fields)
Active phase screen (choose 1–2 primary patterns for gameplay)
Debrief screen (cartridge payload, standard nOSh frame)

Audio:

Voice 1: Navigation (use shared standard tones)
Voice 2: Gameplay events (define 5–8 unique tones per module)
Voice 3: Ambient/tension (define looping or event-triggered)

Navigation Grammar:

CAR behavior (always “enter” or equivalent)
CDR behavior (always “next” or “traverse”)
BACK behavior (always “return” or “exit”)
Special keys (APPLY, QUOTE, CONS if used)
No reassigned semantics (CAR must not mean “cancel”)

Data Structures:

Custom cell types defined (if using capability model)
Deck state integration (which SRAM fields are written)
Cartridge history bit assigned (for cross-module detection)
Save data size estimated (per-cartridge save area)

Multi-Phase Support:

Phase template structure defined
Cross-module phase compatibility documented
Hot Swap modal integration tested

End of Document

This design system is a living reference. As new cartridges are designed and added to the KN-86 library, update this document to incorporate new patterns, audio conventions, and interaction paradigms that achieve consistency across the platform.

KN-86 UI Design System

Overview

1. Screen Architecture Patterns

Pattern 1: Full List Browser

Pattern 2: Split Pane (Dual List/Grid)

Pattern 3: Full Grid (Tile-Based View)

Pattern 4: Status Dashboard

Pattern 5: Detail Inspector (Modal/Focused View)

Pattern 6: Combat/Action Grid (Real-Time)

2. Navigation Grammar

Core Navigation Intent Matrix

Navigation Rules by Context

Rule 1: List Views (Pattern 1)

Rule 2: Split Pane Views (Pattern 2)

Rule 3: Grid Views (Pattern 3)

Rule 4: Dashboard Views (Pattern 4)

Rule 5: Inspector Views (Pattern 5)

Rule 6: Combat/Action Views (Pattern 6)

3. Standard HUD Components

3.1 Status Bar (Row 0)

3.2 Action Bar (Row 24)

3.3 Progress Bars

3.4 Threat Indicators & Status Symbols

3.5 Pane Dividers & Separators

3.6 Tab Strips

3.7 Data Tables

3.8 ASCII Graphs & Maps

3.9 Box Drawing & Borders

3.10 Modal Overlays & Dialogs

3.11 Scrolling Text Areas

3A. CIPHER-LINE Auxiliary Display

3A.1 Four-Row Layout

3A.2 Scroll and Pause Behavior

3A.3 Row-Overflow Ticker (Rows 1 and 4 Only)

3A.4 CIPHER-LINE Pattern Catalogue

3A-Pattern-A: Ambient

3A-Pattern-B: Tense Beat

3A-Pattern-C: Phase Transition

3A-Pattern-D: Cart-Swap Lull

3A-Pattern-E: Seed Capture

3A-Pattern-F: Silent

3A.5 What CIPHER-LINE Is Not For

3A.6 Separating Main-Grid Patterns from CIPHER-LINE Patterns

4. Typography & Symbolism

4.1 Character Conventions

4.2 Threat Level Visual Vocabulary

4.3 Glyphs & Icon Sets

4.4 Key Naming (for display in action bars)

5. Sound Design Palette

5.1 Standard Audio Events

5.2 Kepress Confirmation Tones

5.3 Gameplay Audio Events

5.4 Phase Transition Sounds

5.5 Module-Specific Channels

6. Interaction State Machine

6.1 Standard State Transitions

6.2 List Navigation State Machine

6.3 Modal Interrupt State Machine

6.4 Split Pane Focus Switch

6.5 Grid Navigation & Targeting

6.6 Error Handling & Recovery

7. Cartridge-Specific Customization Points

7.1 Mandatory Standard Components

7.2 Highly Customizable Components

7.3 Customization Examples

8. Reference Implementation: ICE Breaker

8.1 ICE Breaker Screen Layouts

8.2 Audio Events (ICE Breaker)

9. Cross-Module Interaction Patterns

9.1 Shared Data Structures

9.2 Cross-Module Mission Examples

9.3 Interaction Example: ICE Breaker + Black Ledger

10. Summary & Quick Reference

10.1 Pattern Selection Matrix

10.2 Audio Event Checklist

10.3 Mandatory Components Checklist

10.4 Reserved Key Semantics

11. Implementation Notes for Developers

11.1 Grid Width Reference

11.2 Row Height Reference