the language
const
Named constants · `${{ const.X }}` · a fixed value baked into the workflow. Either a bare literal, or a `{ type, value }` typed constant whose `value:` MUST conform to `type:`. The literal half of the dead `vars:` block (R3a · LAW-SURFACE-0201) · everything that is not `required: true` lands here per the E-split total rule. One of 62 words the served contract declares, projected from workflow.schema.json, the same file your editor validates against.
- 1surfaceenvelope
- optionaleverywherea choice, never a miss
- objecttypethe declared shape
- 7skeletonscarry this key
the contract
1 declarationDescriptions are the schema's own; the deeper invariants (value languages and regexes) ride the same projection. A miss is a nika check finding before anything runs.
- envelope
objectNamed constants · `${{ const.X }}` · a fixed value baked into the workflow. Either a bare literal, or a `{ type, value }` typed constant whose `value:` MUST conform to `type:`. The literal half of the dead `vars:` block (R3a · LAW-SURFACE-0201) · everything that is not `required: true` lands here per the E-split total rule.the file itself
in a real file
from the chain skeletonconst: source: "./README.md" # SLOT: your input · README.md exists in most repos destination: "./output.md" # SLOT: where the result landsa verbatim slice, real line numbers from chain.nika.yaml, conformance-gated upstream on every spec push. open the full skeleton →
cross-references
skeletons that carry it
the check gates that name it
where it lives
from the blog
defined by
the block it lives in
The whole grammar in one place: the four verbs · the standard library · the spec. Try it in the playground. Read the reference →