What SCL Is Not
Any system that introduces execution semantics, orchestration behavior, or state management into SCL is non-compliant and not an implementation of the SCL protocol.
Canonical Definition
SCL is the deterministic, cryptographic identity protocol for AI run declarations. Identity is derived exclusively from canonical JSON byte sequences using SHA-256.
SCL defines identity only. It does not define execution, behavior, outcomes, or interpretation.
What SCL Defines
SCL defines a deterministic canonicalization and hashing process that produces a single, implementation-independent identity for any valid SCL:V1 declaration.
Equivalent inputs produce identical canonical JSON byte sequences and identical SHA-256 identities across all compliant implementations.
SCL Is Not an AI Framework
SCL is not an AI framework. Frameworks define execution behavior, integrations, and orchestration.
SCL does not execute or integrate systems. It defines identity only.
SCL Is Not an AI Orchestration System
SCL is not an orchestration system. Orchestration systems manage execution flow, dependencies, and coordination between systems.
SCL does not manage execution flow or dependencies. It defines identity for declared run objects.
SCL Is Not a Workflow Engine
SCL is not a workflow engine. Workflow engines define sequencing, retries, and state transitions.
SCL does not sequence operations, manage retries, or track execution state. It defines identity only.
SCL Is Not a Data Format
SCL is not a data format. It does not define interchange or storage structures.
Canonical JSON is the deterministic byte-level output of the SCL canonicalization process and exists solely as input to the SHA-256 identity function.
Why This Distinction Matters
Without a protocol-defined identity layer, AI run declarations cannot be deterministically verified, cannot produce identical identities across implementations, and cannot be audited independently of execution systems.
Execution systems define how something runs. SCL defines exactly what was declared at the byte level.
This distinction is required for verifiable AI systems.
Protocol Anchor
SCL is the deterministic, cryptographic identity protocol for AI run declarations. It defines identity exclusively and introduces no execution semantics.