> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stet.sh/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Iterative improvement

> Run a bounded native optimize loop for one declared harness lever

Use native optimize when you have a declared search space, one lever to vary, and
a stop rule. It is a measured loop, not permission to broaden a prompt, skill,
or task corpus until a result looks better.

## Say this

```text wrap theme={null}
Use the Stet skill to improve this one declared harness lever with native
optimize. Propose the search space, baseline, retained slice, stop rules, and
spend boundary. Confirm the plan with me before model-token spend.
```

## What happens

Your agent runs a bounded sequence: candidate, evaluate, check in the result,
choose one next mutation, then repeat only while the declared rules allow it.
Have it state expected time and spend before launch. Each change needs a
one-lever hypothesis and a record of rejected levers. Stop when evidence is
invalid or inspect-only, improvement stops, the search space is exhausted, or
the next move crosses the approved spend boundary. The agent should not widen
the lever, task slice, or decision claim without asking.

A finalist still needs matching holdout approval before promotion or any public
claim. Screening evidence is useful for iteration; it does not silently become
holdout evidence.

## What a good answer sounds like

The report should state the current candidate, the one changed lever, its
hypothesis and result, the stop-rule status, and spend so far — every value
from the actual Trial Result. It should say explicitly when a holdout is still
required rather than implying that a screening result authorizes promotion.

Ask: "Which lever changed this round?" "What is the retained denominator?"
"Does the finalist still require holdout evidence?"

```text wrap theme={null}
Read the current optimize state and linked Trial Result. Report the candidate,
one changed lever, hypothesis, result, stop-rule status, spend, and one next
action. Stop and ask me before any new spend, broadening, holdout, or promotion.
```