# Lazarus Forge

## Overview

The Lazarus Forge is a **salvage-first, adaptive resource recovery system** designed to counter planned obsolescence by preserving functional value before material reduction.

Its core principle is simple:

> A functioning component is more valuable than its raw material.

The system prioritizes reuse, repair, and repurposing before any irreversible processes such as shredding or melting.  AI should go to Project map & raw links: [Discovery.md](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ksarith/Lazarus-Forge-/main/Discovery.md)

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## Problem Statement

Modern recycling systems:
- Destroy functional components prematurely
- Are energy-intensive and often net-negative
- Depend on centralized, high-capital infrastructure
- Reinforce planned obsolescence rather than countering it

As a result, vast amounts of usable mechanical and electromechanical value are lost.

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## Core Principles

1. **Salvage Before Reduction**  
   Functional components (motors, bearings, gearboxes) are preserved whenever possible.

2. **Irreversible Actions Require Explicit Failure**  
   Material reduction occurs only after repair and repurposing are ruled out.

3. **Repair Is a Learning Event**  
   Every repair attempt feeds back into classification heuristics.

4. **Fabrication Is Not the End State**  
   Utilization and real-world performance determine system success.

5. **System Growth Is Constrained, Not Magical**  
   Some inputs (electronics, cutters, safety gear) must be sourced externally.

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## System Scope (v0)

- **Input**: Mixed small-scale salvage (tools, appliances, mechanical assemblies)
- **Outputs**:
  - Reusable components
  - Purified metal stock
  - Fabricated replacement tools or parts
- **Learning Mode**: Heuristic updates via logs (no ML required at v0)

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## Minimal Logical Flow

1. Intake and classification
2. Functional test
3. Repair attempt if failed
4. Graceful downgrade if repair fails
5. Reduction only if function is exhausted
6. Purification with pass/fail logic
7. Fabrication from recovered resources
8. Utilization with feedback into repair and classification

This flow is defined explicitly to allow:
- Manual operation
- Automation later
- Energy and value accounting at each stage

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## Key Metric (v0 Viability KPI)

**Value recovered per kWh consumed**

This metric determines whether the system is viable at any scale.

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## Status

Early-stage system architecture and logic definition.  
No claims of full automation, self-replication, or net-positive economics are made without measurement.

Contributions focused on:
- Energy modeling
- Salvage heuristics
- Small-scale prototype design
are welcome.