> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.trueopen.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.trueopen.ai/overview/architecture.md).

# Architecture

The on-chain and off-chain components of TrueOpen V1.

TrueOpen V1 consists of one on-chain state machine and three off-chain service layers.

```mermaid
flowchart LR
    U[User] -->|submit and retrieve| S[SDK]
    S -->|signed transactions| N[TrueOpen node]
    S -->|task data| X[Nexus]
    X -->|coordination and relay| C[Cortex]
    C -->|signed task actions| N
    X -->|submitted proposals| N
    N -->|state, events and selection| X
    N -->|state and events| C
```

| Component  | Responsibility                                                                                                                                           |
| ---------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **node**   | Runs consensus and the keeper state machine. It owns task lifecycle state, selection results, deadlines, funds, settlement, and protocol accountability. |
| **nexus**  | Runs with a Builder. It coordinates task proposals, transports control messages, stores task data, relays outputs, and submits transactions.             |
| **cortex** | Runs with a Cortex Node. It executes inference or independently verifies another node's result for a specific task.                                      |
| **SDK**    | Gives users the interfaces for signing orders, submitting tasks, retrieving results, querying chain state, and opening challenges.                       |

## Trust boundary

Task inputs, outputs, and evidence are transferred off-chain over authenticated connections. They are not placed directly on-chain. The chain instead records the state transitions, commitments, deadlines, and accepted actions required to coordinate and settle the task.

An off-chain observation cannot directly move funds or assign protocol responsibility. It must be represented by a valid protocol action that the on-chain state machine can evaluate consistently.


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