DD-b11: The b11 Delayed Counting Default#

Status: Adopted for testing purposes (2026-03-25)

Drafted by: Claude Opus 4.6 (MMv1 — machine-made, pending human review)

Depends on: The HELL counting system, which defines the letter-prefixed numbering scheme used here. This DD does not attempt to fully describe that system; it only documents one convention derived from it.

The Convention#

When a new register is created (such as this DD log, or the HELL con/pro registers), regular entries begin at b11, not at a1.

The addresses a1 through b10 are held in reserve. These are the shortest, most memorable labels in the register — the ones easiest to cite, easiest to type, easiest to remember. They should be assigned deliberately to entries that deserve that prominence, not consumed by whatever entry happens to arrive first.

Why b11#

In the HELL counting system, the letter prefix encodes how many digits follow: a = 1 digit (a1–a9), b = 2 digits (b10–b99), c = 3 digits (c100–c999), and so on. This ensures that alphabetical sorting preserves numerical order without zero-padding.

Starting at b11 therefore reserves:

  • a1–a9 (9 addresses)

  • b10 (1 address)

for a total of 10 reserved slots. These may be filled at any time, including long after the register has grown past b99.

Where This Applies#

  • matheology/hell/con/b/ and matheology/hell/pro/b/ — HELL findings register (first regular entry: b11)

  • matheology/compiler/dd/llog/b/ — compiler design discussion log (first regular entry: b11, this document)

  • Future registers should follow the same convention unless there is a specific reason not to.