Principlev1PR-930
Catch errors at the earliest point in a process where…
Catch errors at the earliest point in a process where detection is possible, as correction cost increases exponentially with propagation distance.
Why This Is a Principle
This principle derives from Exponential Information Decay (information decay) and Patterns Exist in Hierarchical Logical Levels (hierarchical patterns where deeper structures generate surface events). Boehm's curve demonstrates that errors propagate through layers, with each layer adding cost. The principle prescribes early detection as a design goal. It's actionable across domains (software, writing, relationships) and is more specific than the axioms but more general than context-specific rules.