Building Semantic Schema

Source - [1]

A schema is a formal, machine-readable contract that declares what exists, what it means, and what must be true—without saying how to build it

What a schema is

A schema is an abstraction that defines meaning, structure, and constraints, independent of any particular file format or tool.

A schema is:

• Conceptual before it is representational
• Declarative rather than procedural
• Concerned with what is true, not how it is produced

A schema does not inherently belong to:

• JSON
• YAML
• XML
• IFC
• FreeCAD
• Revit
• Any specific software system

Those are merely serialization formats or containers used to express the schema.

Role of the compiler

The purpose of a compiler is to translate a schema into a target representation.

A compiler:

• Interprets the schema’s meaning and constraints
• Resolves ambiguities and degrees of freedom
• Applies deterministic construction rules
• Emits a concrete artifact in a target domain

Examples of compiler targets include:

• FreeCAD geometry
• IFC models
• Permit drawings
• Bills of materials
• Installation instructions
• Inspection checklists

Key separation

• The schema defines intent and truth
• The compiler defines execution
• The output is disposable and regenerable

This separation is what enables:

• Lossless regeneration
• Automation at scale
• Tool independence
• Safe use of AI

Summary

A schema is a tool-independent abstraction of meaning and constraints.

A compiler is the mechanism that translates that abstraction into a specific, concrete output.

A schema is not

A schema is not any of the following:

• Geometry
• Code
• Instructions
• Algorithms
• Drawings
• A script
• A model in FreeCAD

All of the above are derived artifacts — they are produced *from* a schema by compilers, generators, or humans, but they are not the schema itself.