%% SCRAP: experiments/02-experiments/README %% SOURCE: docs/working/experiments/02-experiments/README.md %% STATUS: CURRENT %% FITS: experiments/ch-framework %% EDITORIAL: lifted — prose rewritten to press voice \section{Experimental Framework Overview} StarForth's experimental programme applies rigorous design-of-experiments methodology to the physics-driven adaptive runtime, yielding a body of evidence that grounds every performance claim in reproducible, statistically validated data. Four experimental series structure the work. \begin{itemize} \item \textbf{Factorial DoE} — Full $2^k$ factorial designs sweep all binary combinations of feedback-loop configurations, revealing main effects and interaction terms that single-factor studies cannot detect. \item \textbf{Heartbeat DoE} — Focused experiments on the heartbeat subsystem measure temporal stability, load-response coupling, and convergence dynamics of the adaptive tick mechanism. \item \textbf{James Law} — Window-scaling experiments validate the conservation invariant $\Lambda \times (\mathrm{DoF}+1) = W$ across multiple window sizes, degrees of freedom, and workload shapes. \item \textbf{Physics Optimization} — Targeted parameter sweeps quantify the marginal contribution of individual physics-engine parameters, establishing a tuning baseline for production builds. \end{itemize} \subsection{Experiment Lifecycle} Every experiment follows a five-phase protocol: \begin{enumerate} \item \textbf{Design} — state the hypothesis, identify factors, and specify response variables before collecting any data. \item \textbf{Protocol} — write a formal execution guide documenting methodology and success criteria. \item \textbf{Execute} — run the experiment and collect data without mid-course adjustments. \item \textbf{Analyse} — apply statistical methods (ANOVA, Levene's test, credible-interval estimation) to the collected measurements. \item \textbf{Document} — write a summary and promote publication-ready results to the research archive. \end{enumerate} \subsection{Key Result: Deterministic Behaviour} Across 90 experimental runs in the physics-engine validation campaign, StarForth achieves \textbf{0\% algorithmic variance}, confirming formally proven deterministic behaviour of the physics-driven adaptive runtime. The $2^7$ factorial campaign extends this over 38{,}400 runs with consistent convergence to the lowest-CV steady state. \subsection{Statistical Methodology} Each campaign employs factorial designs for multi-factor analysis, heartbeat-driven data collection at millisecond resolution, and statistical validation via ANOVA and Levene's test. Experimental protocols are reproducible: run scripts, R analysis code, and raw CSV data are archived alongside results. %% TODO(bob): confirm canonical published path for the DoE metrics schema and %% publication-results documents referenced in the source