Core Concepts
Understanding τ starts with understanding its four fundamental primitives:
The Four Primitives
1. Tau (τ)
An immutable delta valid for an explicit time range. Store only what changed, when it changed.
2. Schedule
An ordered collection of related Taus. Reconstruct any point in time by replaying deltas.
3. Frame
A grouping of schedules that belong together. Organize related time-series data with clear boundaries.
4. Lens
A transformation that acts as both view and migration. Define once, auto-evolve forever.
Design Philosophy
Immutable by Design
τ is built on the principle that data should never be lost. Every change is recorded as a new Tau, preserving complete history.
Comparison with Traditional Databases
| Feature | Traditional DB | τ (tau) | |---------|---------------|---------| | Updates | Overwrite | Append new Tau | | History | Optional/Complex | Built-in | | Time Queries | Slow/Unsupported | First-class | | Migrations | Downtime required | Zero-copy with Lenses |