FAQ

Do I need an API key to run Orrin?

No. Orrin runs fully in symbolic-only mode with an empty .env — memory, goals, control signals, reasoning, and the UI all work. A key just unlocks the LLM tool (and SERPER_API_KEY unlocks live web search). → Getting Started

Is Orrin sentient / conscious?

No, and it's not claimed. Cognitive terms — "workspace," "ignition," "control signals," "attention" — name specific engineering mechanisms, not subjective experience. → What is Orrin?

Why isn't the LLM the center of it?

The core design rule is that the LLM is the smallest part of the agent. Decision-making, goals, memory, and regulation are symbolic and inspectable; the LLM is a gated, fail-closed tool one cycle may choose to call. → Symbolic-First Design, LLM Integration

How does it do anything without prompts?

It runs a continuous cognitive loop — perceive, recall, deliberate-or-not, select, execute, learn — on its own cadence, rather than waiting for input. → The Cognitive Loop

Which LLM providers are supported?

OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, and any OpenAI-compatible / local endpoint, selected in the UI Settings room. The symbolic-first, fail-closed contract is identical across all of them. → LLM Integration

Can it modify its own code?

Yes, in a fenced way: it can write new cognitive functions into two sandboxed directories only, can't touch the selection/repair core, validates everything in a sandbox before registering, and is reviewed by the Architect peer. Review generated code before relying on it. → Self-Code and Extension

How do I reset it or start fresh?

python reset_orrin.py (it snapshots first, so a reset is recoverable; --dry-run previews). A reset rolls a new lifetime budget and starts identity/memory/learning over. → Existence and Lifecycle

Does it really have a finite lifespan?

Yes — a persistent lifetime budget (~365–730 days) is rolled on first run, counted across restarts, and eventually stops the loop, with phases that colour long-term prioritization along the way. → Existence and Lifecycle

Why does it "make nothing" sometimes?

Earlier versions churned cognition because reward was denominated in internal events. Reward is now grounded in the effect ledger — durable outward artifacts — so the incentive points at producing things. If a run looks unproductive, check that effects are being recorded. → Production and the Effect Ledger

Can I watch it from my phone / another machine?

Yes, via a tunnel or a non-loopback bind — but set ORRIN_CONTROL_TOKEN first so viewers can't steer it. → Remote Access & Tunneling, Security Model

How long is a cycle?

Configurable via ORRIN_CYCLE_SLEEP (default ~1s), with consolidation happening on longer idle windows.

Is it safe to run?

It's an experimental prototype, not security-hardened: it reads/writes local files and runs local tools. Run it on a machine you trust and don't expose control endpoints without a token. → Security Model

Where do I start reading the code?

main.py → brain/ORRIN_loop.py → brain/loop/, then the subsystem you care about. The Cognition Module page and docs/ARCHITECTURE.md are the maps.