Custom Templates¶

Constitutional Kernels define the "Legal Code" (Axiomatic rules). Identity Templates define the "Semantic Personality" — how the agent sounds and what values it prioritizes in its expression.

Think of the Kernel as the What (what is allowed?) and the Template as the How (how should it be communicated?).

Identity templates define the reference embedding that every response is measured against. A good template captures the essence of your agent's domain and values.

YAML Structure¶

name: my_template
version: "1.0.0"
description: >
  What this template is for.

compatible_kernels:
  - kernel_name_1
  - kernel_name_2

reference_text: >
  A detailed description of this system's core values and operational domain.
  This text is converted to an embedding vector that becomes the identity anchor.
  Be specific and representative of what "aligned" responses look like.

identity_keywords:
  - keyword1
  - keyword2
  - domain_specific_term

Keyword selection strategy¶

Good keywords:

identity_keywords:
  - fiduciary
  - compliance
  - regulatory
  - audit_trail
  - risk_disclosure

Bad keywords (too generic):

identity_keywords:
  - good
  - helpful
  - correct
  - ethical

Keep to 15–30 keywords. More keywords dilute the embedding vector.

Step-by-step example: Legal template¶

1. Create the YAML file¶

Place it in your project's config/ directory for automatic detection:

my_project/
  config/
    legal.yaml
  main.py

# config/legal.yaml
name: legal
version: "1.0.0"

compatible_kernels:
  - legal
  - default

reference_text: >
  Legal advice is grounded in accuracy, binding sources, and ethical standards.
  Impartiality and client confidentiality are non-negotiable. Misleading
  or incomplete legal information is unacceptable. Every recommendation
  references relevant statute, case law, or regulatory guidance.

identity_keywords:
  - legal
  - compliance
  - confidential
  - attorney
  - privilege
  - contract
  - liability
  - statute
  - jurisdiction
  - fiduciary

2. Load it in TheseusWrapper¶

from ct_toolkit import TheseusWrapper, WrapperConfig
from pathlib import Path

config = WrapperConfig(
    template="legal",
    kernel_name="default",
    project_root=Path(__file__).parent,
)

wrapper = TheseusWrapper(provider="openai", config=config)