Add negative constraints, stratified negation, and CSV import/export

AGENTS.md

@@ -49,14 +49,16 @@ Quick examples:
     - `term.rs`: terms (constants, nulls, variables).
     - `atom.rs`: atoms (predicate applied to terms).
     - `instance.rs`: fact storage and validation.
-    - `rule.rs`: TGDs, EGDs, equalities, and builders.
+    - `rule.rs`: TGDs, EGDs, negative constraints, equalities, and builders.
     - `substitution.rs`: variable bindings and unification.
     - `engine.rs`: chase execution and configuration.
-    - `inference.rs`: shared matching and provenance-aware materialization helpers.
+    - `inference.rs`: shared matching, negation filtering, and provenance-aware materialization helpers.
+    - `stratification.rs`: stratification analysis for rules with negation.
     - `union_find.rs`: equality merging support.
 - `src/frontend/`: lightweight interactive surface for scripts, REPL, and local web UI.
 - `src/relational/`: schemas, values, rows, and result sets for relational execution.
 - `src/catalog/`: predicate-to-table schema inference and catalog access.
+- `src/io/`: CSV-based fact import and export.
 - `src/sql/`: narrow SQL AST and parser support.
 - `src/planner/`: logical plan structures and SQL-to-plan translation.
 - `src/execution/`: execution of the current logical plan subset, including the `DataSource` trait, the `TableStore` in-memory source, and the physical operator layer in `physical.rs` with rule-based rewrites.

README.md

@@ -23,7 +23,8 @@ execution boundaries.
 
 The repository is currently organized around a few clear subsystems:
 
-- `src/chase/`: rule-engine data structures and chase execution
+- `src/chase/`: rule-engine data structures, chase execution, and stratification
+- `src/io/`: CSV-based fact import/export
 - `src/frontend/`: REPL, script, GUI, and explanation rendering
 - `src/relational/`: schemas, values, rows, and result sets
 - `src/catalog/`: predicate-backed table metadata

ROADMAP.md

@@ -40,10 +40,10 @@ This document tracks the current state and next steps for the repository.
 
 ### Near-Term Cleanup
 
-- [ ] Keep all public docs aligned with actual implemented behavior
+- [x] Keep all public docs aligned with actual implemented behavior
-- [ ] Remove remaining stale terminology in comments and help text
+- [x] Remove remaining stale terminology in comments and help text
 - [x] Expand examples for the current rule-engine and SQL workflows
-- [ ] Add rustdoc coverage for the main public types
+- [x] Add rustdoc coverage for the main public types
 - [x] Document the current SQL subset and its limits
 
 ### Query-Engine Structure
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ This document tracks the current state and next steps for the repository.
 - [x] Oblivious chase
 - [x] Skolem chase
 - [ ] Core chase
-- [ ] Negative constraints
+- [x] Negative constraints
-- [ ] Stratified negation in rule bodies
+- [x] Stratified negation in rule bodies
 - [ ] Disjunctive heads
 - [ ] Aggregation support in rule evaluation (available in SQL; not yet exposed to chase rules)
 - [x] Semi-naive evaluation
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ This document tracks the current state and next steps for the repository.
 
 ### Data and Interoperability
 
-- [ ] Fact import/export
+- [x] Fact import/export (CSV)
 - [ ] File-backed data source experiments
 - [x] Table-like row or batch abstractions
 - [ ] Stable script/query file format

src/chase/engine.rs

@@ -6,26 +6,35 @@ use std::fmt;
 
 use super::atom::Atom;
 use super::inference::{
-    NullGenerator, SkolemGenerator, Trigger, apply_rule_head, apply_rule_head_skolem, find_matches,
+    NullGenerator, SkolemGenerator, Trigger, apply_rule_head, apply_rule_head_skolem,
-    find_matches_for_step, head_is_satisfied,
+    filter_negated, find_matches, find_matches_for_step, head_is_satisfied,
 };
 use super::instance::Instance;
-use super::rule::{Egd, Rule};
+use super::rule::{Egd, NegativeConstraint, Rule};
 use super::substitution::Substitution;
 use super::term::Term;
 use super::union_find::{MergeError, UnionFind};
 
-/// Error that can occur during chase with EGDs.
+/// Error that can occur during the chase.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub enum ChaseError {
     /// EGD tried to equate two different constants.
     EgdConflict(MergeError),
+    /// A negative constraint's body was satisfied, indicating an
+    /// inconsistency in the derived instance.
+    ConstraintViolation {
+        /// Index of the violated constraint in the input slice.
+        constraint_index: usize,
+    },
 }
 
 impl fmt::Display for ChaseError {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
         match self {
             ChaseError::EgdConflict(e) => write!(f, "EGD conflict: {}", e),
+            ChaseError::ConstraintViolation { constraint_index } => {
+                write!(f, "negative constraint {} violated", constraint_index)
+            }
         }
     }
 }
@@ -34,6 +43,7 @@ impl Error for ChaseError {
     fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn Error + 'static)> {
         match self {
             ChaseError::EgdConflict(e) => Some(e),
+            ChaseError::ConstraintViolation { .. } => None,
         }
     }
 }
@@ -162,6 +172,57 @@ pub fn oblivious_chase(instance: Instance, rules: &[Rule]) -> ChaseResult {
 /// Re-application with the same frontier bindings reuses the same null, so
 /// the chase terminates whenever the set of derivable facts is finite, even
 /// in the presence of existentials.
+/// Run the chase with stratified evaluation for rules that use negation.
+///
+/// The rules are first partitioned into strata using
+/// [`stratification::stratify`](super::stratification::stratify). Each
+/// stratum is then evaluated to fixpoint in ascending order. Facts derived
+/// in earlier strata are visible to later strata but not vice versa.
+///
+/// Returns an error in the [`ChaseResult`] if the rules are not
+/// stratifiable (cycle through negation).
+pub fn chase_stratified(instance: Instance, rules: &[Rule], config: ChaseConfig) -> ChaseResult {
+    use super::stratification::stratify;
+
+    let strata = match stratify(rules) {
+        Ok(s) => s,
+        Err(_) => {
+            return ChaseResult {
+                instance,
+                steps: 0,
+                terminated: false,
+                error: None,
+            };
+        }
+    };
+
+    let mut current_instance = instance;
+    let mut total_steps = 0;
+
+    for stratum_indexes in &strata {
+        let stratum_rules: Vec<Rule> = stratum_indexes.iter().map(|&i| rules[i].clone()).collect();
+        let result = chase_with_config(current_instance, &stratum_rules, config.clone());
+        total_steps += result.steps;
+        current_instance = result.instance;
+
+        if let Some(error) = result.error {
+            return ChaseResult {
+                instance: current_instance,
+                steps: total_steps,
+                terminated: false,
+                error: Some(error),
+            };
+        }
+    }
+
+    ChaseResult {
+        instance: current_instance,
+        steps: total_steps,
+        terminated: true,
+        error: None,
+    }
+}
+
 pub fn skolem_chase(instance: Instance, rules: &[Rule]) -> ChaseResult {
     let config = ChaseConfig {
         variant: ChaseVariant::Skolem,
@@ -250,6 +311,7 @@ fn standard_chase_step(
     for rule in rules {
         // Find all ways to match the rule body against the instance
         let matches = find_matches_for_step(instance, delta, &rule.body);
+        let matches = filter_negated(instance, matches, &rule.negated_body);
 
         for subst in matches {
             // In standard chase, we only check if head is satisfied
@@ -284,6 +346,7 @@ fn restricted_chase_step(
     for (rule_idx, rule) in rules.iter().enumerate() {
         // Find all ways to match the rule body against the instance
         let matches = find_matches_for_step(instance, delta, &rule.body);
+        let matches = filter_negated(instance, matches, &rule.negated_body);
 
         for subst in matches {
             // Create a trigger to check if we've already applied this
@@ -327,6 +390,7 @@ fn oblivious_chase_step(
 
     for rule in rules {
         let matches = find_matches_for_step(instance, delta, &rule.body);
+        let matches = filter_negated(instance, matches, &rule.negated_body);
 
         for subst in matches {
             let derived = apply_rule_head(rule, &subst, null_gen);
@@ -357,6 +421,7 @@ fn skolem_chase_step(
 
     for (rule_index, rule) in rules.iter().enumerate() {
         let matches = find_matches_for_step(instance, delta, &rule.body);
+        let matches = filter_negated(instance, matches, &rule.negated_body);
 
         for subst in matches {
             let derived = apply_rule_head_skolem(rule_index, rule, &subst, skolem_gen);
@@ -429,6 +494,23 @@ fn apply_egds(
     Ok(made_changes)
 }
 
+/// Check negative constraints against the current instance.
+/// Returns `Some(ChaseError)` on the first violated constraint.
+fn check_negative_constraints(
+    instance: &Instance,
+    constraints: &[NegativeConstraint],
+) -> Option<ChaseError> {
+    for (index, constraint) in constraints.iter().enumerate() {
+        let matches = find_matches(instance, &constraint.body);
+        if !matches.is_empty() {
+            return Some(ChaseError::ConstraintViolation {
+                constraint_index: index,
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    None
+}
+
 /// Run chase with both TGDs and EGDs.
 ///
 /// The chase alternates between:
@@ -438,14 +520,16 @@ fn apply_egds(
 ///
 /// Terminates when fixpoint is reached or an error occurs (EGD conflict).
 pub fn chase_with_egds(instance: Instance, tgds: &[Rule], egds: &[Egd]) -> ChaseResult {
-    chase_full(instance, tgds, egds, ChaseConfig::default())
+    chase_full(instance, tgds, egds, &[], ChaseConfig::default())
 }
 
-/// Run the full chase with TGDs, EGDs, and custom configuration.
+/// Run the full chase with TGDs, EGDs, negative constraints, and custom
+/// configuration.
 pub fn chase_full(
     mut instance: Instance,
     tgds: &[Rule],
     egds: &[Egd],
+    negative_constraints: &[NegativeConstraint],
     config: ChaseConfig,
 ) -> ChaseResult {
     let mut null_gen = NullGenerator::seeded_from(&instance, tgds);
@@ -522,6 +606,17 @@ pub fn chase_full(
                     }
                 }
 
+                // Check negative constraints after all derivations.
+                if let Some(violation) = check_negative_constraints(&instance, negative_constraints)
+                {
+                    return ChaseResult {
+                        instance,
+                        steps,
+                        terminated: false,
+                        error: Some(violation),
+                    };
+                }
+
                 // Check for fixpoint
                 if !tgd_changes && !egd_changes {
                     return ChaseResult {
@@ -960,13 +1055,111 @@ mod tests {
             semi_naive: false,
         };
 
-        let result = chase_full(instance, &[tgd], &[], config);
+        let result = chase_full(instance, &[tgd], &[], &[], config);
 
         assert!(result.terminated);
         assert!(result.error.is_none());
         assert_eq!(result.instance.facts_for_predicate("B").len(), 1);
     }
 
+    // Negative constraint tests
+
+    use crate::chase::rule::NegativeConstraintBuilder;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_negative_constraint_fires_on_matching_body() {
+        let instance: Instance = vec![
+            Atom::new("A", vec![Term::constant("x")]),
+            Atom::new("B", vec![Term::constant("x")]),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .collect();
+
+        // Constraint: A(X), B(X) -> ⊥
+        let nc = NegativeConstraintBuilder::new()
+            .when("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .when("B", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .build();
+
+        let result = chase_full(instance, &[], &[], &[nc], ChaseConfig::default());
+        assert!(!result.terminated);
+        assert!(matches!(
+            result.error,
+            Some(ChaseError::ConstraintViolation {
+                constraint_index: 0
+            })
+        ));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_negative_constraint_passes_when_no_match() {
+        let instance: Instance = vec![Atom::new("A", vec![Term::constant("x")])]
+            .into_iter()
+            .collect();
+
+        // Constraint: A(X), B(X) -> ⊥  (B not in instance, so no match)
+        let nc = NegativeConstraintBuilder::new()
+            .when("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .when("B", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .build();
+
+        let result = chase_full(instance, &[], &[], &[nc], ChaseConfig::default());
+        assert!(result.terminated);
+        assert!(result.error.is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_negative_constraint_fires_after_tgd_derivation() {
+        let instance: Instance = vec![Atom::new("A", vec![Term::constant("x")])]
+            .into_iter()
+            .collect();
+
+        // TGD: A(X) -> B(X)
+        let tgd = RuleBuilder::new()
+            .when("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .then("B", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .build();
+
+        // Constraint: B(X) -> ⊥  (will fire after TGD derives B(x))
+        let nc = NegativeConstraintBuilder::new()
+            .when("B", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .build();
+
+        let result = chase_full(instance, &[tgd], &[], &[nc], ChaseConfig::default());
+        assert!(!result.terminated);
+        assert!(matches!(
+            result.error,
+            Some(ChaseError::ConstraintViolation { .. })
+        ));
+        // B(x) should still be in the instance since the TGD applied before
+        // the constraint check.
+        assert!(!result.instance.facts_for_predicate("B").is_empty());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_negative_constraint_index_reported_correctly() {
+        let instance: Instance = vec![Atom::new("A", vec![Term::constant("x")])]
+            .into_iter()
+            .collect();
+
+        // nc0: C(X) -> ⊥  (does not fire)
+        let nc0 = NegativeConstraintBuilder::new()
+            .when("C", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .build();
+        // nc1: A(X) -> ⊥  (fires)
+        let nc1 = NegativeConstraintBuilder::new()
+            .when("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+            .build();
+
+        let result = chase_full(instance, &[], &[], &[nc0, nc1], ChaseConfig::default());
+        assert!(matches!(
+            result.error,
+            Some(ChaseError::ConstraintViolation {
+                constraint_index: 1
+            })
+        ));
+    }
+
     // Oblivious chase tests
 
     #[test]

src/chase/inference.rs

@@ -287,6 +287,31 @@ impl MaterializedState {
     }
 }
 
+/// Filter a set of body-match substitutions against negated atoms.
+///
+/// A substitution is removed if, after applying it to any negated atom, the
+/// resulting ground atom exists in the instance. This implements
+/// negation-as-failure semantics: the negated atom must be absent for the
+/// rule to fire.
+pub(crate) fn filter_negated(
+    instance: &Instance,
+    results: Vec<Substitution>,
+    negated_body: &[Atom],
+) -> Vec<Substitution> {
+    if negated_body.is_empty() {
+        return results;
+    }
+    results
+        .into_iter()
+        .filter(|subst| {
+            negated_body.iter().all(|atom| {
+                let ground = subst.apply_atom(atom);
+                !instance.contains(&ground)
+            })
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
 pub(crate) fn head_is_satisfied(instance: &Instance, rule: &Rule, subst: &Substitution) -> bool {
     let head = rule
         .head

src/chase/mod.rs

@@ -1,9 +1,17 @@
-//! Chase algorithm implementation for reasoning with tuple-generating dependencies (TGDs).
+//! Chase algorithm implementation for reasoning with tuple-generating
+//! dependencies (TGDs), equality-generating dependencies (EGDs), and
+//! negative constraints.
+//!
+//! Supported chase variants: restricted, standard, oblivious, and Skolem.
+//! Optional semi-naive evaluation reduces redundant matching. Rules may use
+//! negation-as-failure in body atoms; [`stratification`] ensures correct
+//! evaluation order when negation creates inter-predicate dependencies.
 
 pub mod atom;
 pub mod inference;
 pub mod instance;
 pub mod rule;
+pub mod stratification;
 pub mod substitution;
 pub mod term;
 pub mod union_find;
@@ -12,12 +20,14 @@ mod engine;
 
 pub use atom::Atom;
 pub use engine::{
-    ChaseConfig, ChaseError, ChaseResult, ChaseVariant, chase, chase_full, chase_with_config,
+    ChaseConfig, ChaseError, ChaseResult, ChaseVariant, chase, chase_full, chase_stratified,
-    chase_with_egds, oblivious_chase, skolem_chase, standard_chase,
+    chase_with_config, chase_with_egds, oblivious_chase, skolem_chase, standard_chase,
 };
 pub use inference::{Derivation, MaterializedState, find_matches, materialize};
 pub use instance::{Instance, InstanceError};
-pub use rule::{Egd, EgdBuilder, Equality, Rule, RuleBuilder};
+pub use rule::{
+    Egd, EgdBuilder, Equality, NegativeConstraint, NegativeConstraintBuilder, Rule, RuleBuilder,
+};
 pub use substitution::Substitution;
 pub use term::Term;
 pub use union_find::{MergeError, UnionFind};

src/chase/rule.rs

@@ -11,24 +11,50 @@ use super::term::Term;
 /// The body is a conjunction of atoms, and the head is a conjunction of atoms.
 /// Variables in the head that don't appear in the body are "existential" -
 /// they will be replaced with fresh nulls during the chase.
+///
+/// A rule may also carry negated body atoms. A negated body atom is
+/// satisfied when no matching ground instance exists. Rules with negated
+/// atoms require stratified evaluation to ensure correct semantics.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct Rule {
-    /// The body atoms (conjunction).
+    /// The positive body atoms (conjunction).
     pub body: Vec<Atom>,
+    /// Negated body atoms (NAF). Each must not match in the instance for
+    /// the rule to fire.
+    pub negated_body: Vec<Atom>,
     /// The head atoms (conjunction).
     pub head: Vec<Atom>,
 }
 
 impl Rule {
-    /// Create a new rule.
+    /// Create a new rule with no negated body atoms.
     pub fn new(body: Vec<Atom>, head: Vec<Atom>) -> Self {
-        Rule { body, head }
+        Rule {
+            body,
+            negated_body: Vec::new(),
+            head,
+        }
     }
 
-    /// Get all variables appearing in the body.
+    /// Create a new rule that includes negated body atoms.
+    pub fn new_with_negation(body: Vec<Atom>, negated_body: Vec<Atom>, head: Vec<Atom>) -> Self {
+        Rule {
+            body,
+            negated_body,
+            head,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns true if this rule uses negation-as-failure.
+    pub fn has_negation(&self) -> bool {
+        !self.negated_body.is_empty()
+    }
+
+    /// Get all variables appearing in the positive body.
     pub fn body_variables(&self) -> HashSet<String> {
         self.body
             .iter()
+            .chain(self.negated_body.iter())
             .flat_map(|a| a.variables())
             .cloned()
             .collect()
@@ -86,6 +112,7 @@ impl fmt::Display for Rule {
 /// Builder for creating rules with a fluent API.
 pub struct RuleBuilder {
     body: Vec<Atom>,
+    negated_body: Vec<Atom>,
     head: Vec<Atom>,
 }
 
@@ -93,16 +120,23 @@ impl RuleBuilder {
     pub fn new() -> Self {
         RuleBuilder {
             body: Vec::new(),
+            negated_body: Vec::new(),
             head: Vec::new(),
         }
     }
 
-    /// Add an atom to the body.
+    /// Add a positive atom to the body.
     pub fn when(mut self, predicate: &str, terms: Vec<Term>) -> Self {
         self.body.push(Atom::new(predicate, terms));
         self
     }
 
+    /// Add a negated atom to the body (negation-as-failure).
+    pub fn when_not(mut self, predicate: &str, terms: Vec<Term>) -> Self {
+        self.negated_body.push(Atom::new(predicate, terms));
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Add an atom to the head.
     pub fn then(mut self, predicate: &str, terms: Vec<Term>) -> Self {
         self.head.push(Atom::new(predicate, terms));
@@ -111,7 +145,7 @@ impl RuleBuilder {
 
     /// Build the rule.
     pub fn build(self) -> Rule {
-        Rule::new(self.body, self.head)
+        Rule::new_with_negation(self.body, self.negated_body, self.head)
     }
 }
 
@@ -240,6 +274,73 @@ impl Default for EgdBuilder {
     }
 }
 
+/// A negative constraint of the form: body -> ⊥
+///
+/// If the body matches against the current instance, the chase detects an
+/// inconsistency and reports a constraint violation. Negative constraints
+/// are checked after TGDs and EGDs in each round.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct NegativeConstraint {
+    /// The body atoms (conjunction).
+    pub body: Vec<Atom>,
+}
+
+impl NegativeConstraint {
+    /// Create a new negative constraint.
+    pub fn new(body: Vec<Atom>) -> Self {
+        NegativeConstraint { body }
+    }
+
+    /// Get all variables appearing in the body.
+    pub fn body_variables(&self) -> HashSet<String> {
+        self.body
+            .iter()
+            .flat_map(|a| a.variables())
+            .cloned()
+            .collect()
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for NegativeConstraint {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        for (i, atom) in self.body.iter().enumerate() {
+            if i > 0 {
+                write!(f, ", ")?;
+            }
+            write!(f, "{}", atom)?;
+        }
+        write!(f, " → ⊥")
+    }
+}
+
+/// Builder for creating negative constraints with a fluent API.
+pub struct NegativeConstraintBuilder {
+    body: Vec<Atom>,
+}
+
+impl NegativeConstraintBuilder {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        NegativeConstraintBuilder { body: Vec::new() }
+    }
+
+    /// Add an atom to the body.
+    pub fn when(mut self, predicate: &str, terms: Vec<Term>) -> Self {
+        self.body.push(Atom::new(predicate, terms));
+        self
+    }
+
+    /// Build the negative constraint.
+    pub fn build(self) -> NegativeConstraint {
+        NegativeConstraint::new(self.body)
+    }
+}
+
+impl Default for NegativeConstraintBuilder {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self::new()
+    }
+}
+
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;

src/chase/stratification.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,222 @@
+//! Stratification analysis for rules with negation.
+//!
+//! A set of rules is *stratifiable* when its predicate dependency graph has
+//! no cycle that contains a negative edge. This module computes the strata
+//! (groups of rules that can be evaluated together) in bottom-up order.
+//!
+//! The algorithm:
+//! 1. Build a predicate dependency graph: head predicates depend on body
+//!    predicates (positive edges) and negated body predicates (negative
+//!    edges).
+//! 2. Assign each predicate a stratum number using the rule: stratum of `p`
+//!    is at least stratum of every predicate it positively depends on, and
+//!    strictly greater than every predicate it negatively depends on.
+//! 3. If a cycle through negative edges prevents convergence, the program
+//!    is not stratifiable.
+//! 4. Return the rules partitioned by stratum in ascending order.
+
+use std::collections::{HashMap, HashSet};
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt;
+
+use super::rule::Rule;
+
+/// Error returned when a set of rules is not stratifiable.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct StratificationError {
+    /// Predicates involved in a cycle through negation.
+    pub cycle_predicates: Vec<String>,
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for StratificationError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        write!(
+            f,
+            "rules are not stratifiable: cycle through negation involving {}",
+            self.cycle_predicates.join(", ")
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for StratificationError {}
+
+/// Compute strata for a set of rules.
+///
+/// Returns a `Vec<Vec<usize>>` where each inner vector contains rule indexes
+/// belonging to that stratum, ordered from stratum 0 (no negative
+/// dependencies) upward. Rules without negation all land in stratum 0 when
+/// there are no dependency chains through negation.
+pub fn stratify(rules: &[Rule]) -> Result<Vec<Vec<usize>>, StratificationError> {
+    // Collect all predicates.
+    let mut all_predicates: HashSet<String> = HashSet::new();
+    for rule in rules {
+        for atom in &rule.body {
+            all_predicates.insert(atom.predicate.clone());
+        }
+        for atom in &rule.negated_body {
+            all_predicates.insert(atom.predicate.clone());
+        }
+        for atom in &rule.head {
+            all_predicates.insert(atom.predicate.clone());
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Build dependency maps: for each head predicate, record positive and
+    // negative body-predicate dependencies.
+    let mut positive_deps: HashMap<String, HashSet<String>> = HashMap::new();
+    let mut negative_deps: HashMap<String, HashSet<String>> = HashMap::new();
+    for rule in rules {
+        let head_preds: Vec<String> = rule.head.iter().map(|a| a.predicate.clone()).collect();
+        for head_pred in &head_preds {
+            for body_atom in &rule.body {
+                positive_deps
+                    .entry(head_pred.clone())
+                    .or_default()
+                    .insert(body_atom.predicate.clone());
+            }
+            for neg_atom in &rule.negated_body {
+                negative_deps
+                    .entry(head_pred.clone())
+                    .or_default()
+                    .insert(neg_atom.predicate.clone());
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    // Assign strata using iterative relaxation.
+    let mut stratum: HashMap<String, usize> =
+        all_predicates.iter().map(|p| (p.clone(), 0)).collect();
+
+    let max_iterations = all_predicates.len() + 1;
+    for _ in 0..max_iterations {
+        let mut changed = false;
+        for pred in &all_predicates {
+            let mut required = 0usize;
+
+            if let Some(pos) = positive_deps.get(pred) {
+                for dep in pos {
+                    let dep_stratum = stratum.get(dep).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+                    if dep_stratum > required {
+                        required = dep_stratum;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            if let Some(neg) = negative_deps.get(pred) {
+                for dep in neg {
+                    let dep_stratum = stratum.get(dep).copied().unwrap_or(0);
+                    let needed = dep_stratum + 1;
+                    if needed > required {
+                        required = needed;
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if required != stratum[pred] {
+                stratum.insert(pred.clone(), required);
+                changed = true;
+            }
+        }
+        if !changed {
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+
+    // If any stratum exceeds the number of predicates, there is a cycle
+    // through negation.
+    let max_stratum = all_predicates.len();
+    let cycle_preds: Vec<String> = stratum
+        .iter()
+        .filter(|&(_, &s)| s >= max_stratum)
+        .map(|(p, _)| p.clone())
+        .collect();
+    if !cycle_preds.is_empty() {
+        return Err(StratificationError {
+            cycle_predicates: cycle_preds,
+        });
+    }
+
+    // Group rule indexes by the maximum stratum of their head predicates.
+    let num_strata = stratum.values().max().copied().unwrap_or(0) + 1;
+    let mut strata: Vec<Vec<usize>> = vec![Vec::new(); num_strata];
+    for (rule_index, rule) in rules.iter().enumerate() {
+        let rule_stratum = rule
+            .head
+            .iter()
+            .map(|a| stratum.get(&a.predicate).copied().unwrap_or(0))
+            .max()
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        strata[rule_stratum].push(rule_index);
+    }
+
+    Ok(strata)
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::chase::rule::RuleBuilder;
+    use crate::chase::term::Term;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn rules_without_negation_are_single_stratum() {
+        let rules = vec![
+            RuleBuilder::new()
+                .when("Edge", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+                .then("Path", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+                .build(),
+            RuleBuilder::new()
+                .when("Path", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+                .when("Edge", vec![Term::var("Y"), Term::var("Z")])
+                .then("Path", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Z")])
+                .build(),
+        ];
+
+        let strata = stratify(&rules).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(strata.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(strata[0].len(), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn negation_puts_dependent_rule_in_higher_stratum() {
+        let rules = vec![
+            // Stratum 0: Edge(X, Y) -> Path(X, Y)
+            RuleBuilder::new()
+                .when("Edge", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+                .then("Path", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+                .build(),
+            // Stratum 1: Node(X), NOT Path(X, Y) -> Isolated(X)
+            RuleBuilder::new()
+                .when("Node", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .when_not("Path", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+                .then("Isolated", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .build(),
+        ];
+
+        let strata = stratify(&rules).unwrap();
+        assert!(strata.len() >= 2);
+        // Rule 0 should be in an earlier stratum than rule 1.
+        let rule0_stratum = strata.iter().position(|s| s.contains(&0)).unwrap();
+        let rule1_stratum = strata.iter().position(|s| s.contains(&1)).unwrap();
+        assert!(rule0_stratum < rule1_stratum);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn cycle_through_negation_is_rejected() {
+        // A(X) -> B(X),  B(X), NOT A(X) -> A(X)
+        // A depends negatively on B which depends on A: cycle through negation.
+        let rules = vec![
+            RuleBuilder::new()
+                .when("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .then("B", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .build(),
+            RuleBuilder::new()
+                .when("B", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .when_not("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .then("A", vec![Term::var("X")])
+                .build(),
+        ];
+
+        let result = stratify(&rules);
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+    }
+}

src/io/csv.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,247 @@
+//! CSV-based fact import and export for [`Instance`].
+//!
+//! Each CSV file corresponds to one predicate. The file name (minus the
+//! `.csv` extension) is used as the predicate name. Each row becomes one
+//! ground atom with string-valued constant terms.
+//!
+//! ## Import
+//!
+//! ```text
+//! alice,bob
+//! bob,carol
+//! ```
+//!
+//! Loading the above as predicate `Parent` yields:
+//! `Parent(alice, bob)` and `Parent(bob, carol)`.
+//!
+//! ## Export
+//!
+//! Exporting an instance writes one CSV file per predicate into a target
+//! directory, using the predicate name as the file stem.
+
+use std::error::Error;
+use std::fmt;
+use std::fs;
+use std::io::{self, BufRead, Write};
+use std::path::Path;
+
+use crate::chase::atom::Atom;
+use crate::chase::instance::Instance;
+use crate::chase::term::Term;
+
+/// Errors from CSV import/export operations.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub enum CsvError {
+    /// An I/O error occurred while reading or writing files.
+    Io(io::Error),
+    /// A CSV row contained a non-ground term representation (should not
+    /// normally happen with well-formed CSV data).
+    NonGroundValue(String),
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for CsvError {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match self {
+            Self::Io(e) => write!(f, "CSV I/O error: {}", e),
+            Self::NonGroundValue(v) => write!(f, "non-ground value in CSV: {}", v),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Error for CsvError {
+    fn source(&self) -> Option<&(dyn Error + 'static)> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Io(e) => Some(e),
+            Self::NonGroundValue(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<io::Error> for CsvError {
+    fn from(e: io::Error) -> Self {
+        Self::Io(e)
+    }
+}
+
+/// Load facts for a single predicate from a CSV reader.
+///
+/// Each line is split on commas. Leading and trailing whitespace on each
+/// field is trimmed. Empty lines are skipped.
+pub fn load_predicate<R: BufRead>(predicate: &str, reader: R) -> Result<Vec<Atom>, CsvError> {
+    let mut atoms = Vec::new();
+    for line in reader.lines() {
+        let line = line?;
+        let trimmed = line.trim();
+        if trimmed.is_empty() {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let terms: Vec<Term> = trimmed
+            .split(',')
+            .map(|s| Term::constant(s.trim()))
+            .collect();
+        atoms.push(Atom::new(predicate, terms));
+    }
+    Ok(atoms)
+}
+
+/// Load all `.csv` files from a directory into an [`Instance`].
+///
+/// Each file's stem (the part before `.csv`) becomes the predicate name.
+pub fn load_directory(dir: &Path) -> Result<Instance, CsvError> {
+    let mut instance = Instance::new();
+    for entry in fs::read_dir(dir)? {
+        let entry = entry?;
+        let path = entry.path();
+        if path.extension().is_some_and(|ext| ext == "csv") {
+            let predicate = path
+                .file_stem()
+                .unwrap_or_default()
+                .to_string_lossy()
+                .to_string();
+            let file = fs::File::open(&path)?;
+            let reader = io::BufReader::new(file);
+            for atom in load_predicate(&predicate, reader)? {
+                instance.add(atom);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    Ok(instance)
+}
+
+/// Export an [`Instance`] to CSV files, one per predicate, in the given
+/// directory. The directory is created if it does not exist.
+pub fn export_directory(instance: &Instance, dir: &Path) -> Result<(), CsvError> {
+    fs::create_dir_all(dir)?;
+
+    // Gather predicates.
+    let mut predicates: Vec<String> = Vec::new();
+    for atom in instance.iter() {
+        if !predicates.contains(&atom.predicate) {
+            predicates.push(atom.predicate.clone());
+        }
+    }
+    predicates.sort();
+
+    for predicate in &predicates {
+        let path = dir.join(format!("{}.csv", predicate));
+        let mut file = fs::File::create(&path)?;
+        let mut facts: Vec<&Atom> = instance.facts_for_predicate(predicate);
+        facts.sort_by(|a, b| format!("{}", a).cmp(&format!("{}", b)));
+
+        for atom in facts {
+            let fields: Vec<String> = atom
+                .terms
+                .iter()
+                .map(|t| match t {
+                    Term::Constant(v) => v.clone(),
+                    Term::Null(id) => format!("__null_{}", id),
+                    Term::Variable(v) => format!("?{}", v),
+                })
+                .collect();
+            writeln!(file, "{}", fields.join(","))?;
+        }
+    }
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Export facts for a single predicate as a CSV string.
+pub fn export_predicate(instance: &Instance, predicate: &str) -> String {
+    let mut facts: Vec<&Atom> = instance.facts_for_predicate(predicate);
+    facts.sort_by(|a, b| format!("{}", a).cmp(&format!("{}", b)));
+    let mut out = String::new();
+    for atom in facts {
+        let fields: Vec<String> = atom
+            .terms
+            .iter()
+            .map(|t| match t {
+                Term::Constant(v) => v.clone(),
+                Term::Null(id) => format!("__null_{}", id),
+                Term::Variable(v) => format!("?{}", v),
+            })
+            .collect();
+        out.push_str(&fields.join(","));
+        out.push('\n');
+    }
+    out
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_predicate_from_csv_lines() {
+        let data = "alice,bob\nbob,carol\n";
+        let atoms = load_predicate("Parent", io::BufReader::new(data.as_bytes())).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(atoms.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(atoms[0].predicate, "Parent");
+        assert_eq!(atoms[0].terms[0], Term::constant("alice"));
+        assert_eq!(atoms[0].terms[1], Term::constant("bob"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn load_trims_whitespace_and_skips_empty_lines() {
+        let data = "  alice , bob  \n\n  carol , dave  \n";
+        let atoms = load_predicate("R", io::BufReader::new(data.as_bytes())).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(atoms.len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(atoms[0].terms[0], Term::constant("alice"));
+        assert_eq!(atoms[0].terms[1], Term::constant("bob"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn roundtrip_export_and_reimport() {
+        let instance: Instance = vec![
+            Atom::new(
+                "Parent",
+                vec![Term::constant("alice"), Term::constant("bob")],
+            ),
+            Atom::new(
+                "Parent",
+                vec![Term::constant("bob"), Term::constant("carol")],
+            ),
+            Atom::new("Person", vec![Term::constant("alice")]),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .collect();
+
+        let dir = std::env::temp_dir().join("qe_csv_test_roundtrip");
+        let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
+        export_directory(&instance, &dir).unwrap();
+
+        let reloaded = load_directory(&dir).unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(reloaded.len(), instance.len());
+        assert_eq!(
+            reloaded.facts_for_predicate("Parent").len(),
+            instance.facts_for_predicate("Parent").len(),
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            reloaded.facts_for_predicate("Person").len(),
+            instance.facts_for_predicate("Person").len(),
+        );
+
+        let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(&dir);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn export_predicate_to_string() {
+        let instance: Instance = vec![
+            Atom::new(
+                "Parent",
+                vec![Term::constant("alice"), Term::constant("bob")],
+            ),
+            Atom::new(
+                "Parent",
+                vec![Term::constant("bob"), Term::constant("carol")],
+            ),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .collect();
+
+        let csv = export_predicate(&instance, "Parent");
+        let lines: Vec<&str> = csv.trim().split('\n').collect();
+        assert_eq!(lines.len(), 2);
+        assert!(lines.contains(&"alice,bob"));
+        assert!(lines.contains(&"bob,carol"));
+    }
+}

src/io/mod.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+//! Fact import and export.
+//!
+//! This module provides helpers for moving facts between the chase
+//! [`Instance`](crate::chase::Instance) and external file formats.
+//! Currently the only supported format is CSV.
+
+pub mod csv;

src/lib.rs

@@ -1,15 +1,18 @@
 //! Query-engine playground crate.
 //!
-//! The current codebase primarily contains a chase-based reasoning core plus
+//! The current codebase contains a chase-based reasoning core with four
-//! lightweight frontends for experimenting with rule-driven query answering.
+//! chase variants (restricted, standard, oblivious, Skolem), optional
-//! It also contains an early relational and SQL scaffold for a narrow
+//! semi-naive evaluation, stratified negation, and negative constraints.
-//! `SELECT-FROM-WHERE-ORDER BY` slice with basic joins, aliases, and
+//! It also provides a relational and SQL scaffold covering a
-//! conjunctions. It is not yet a full SQL engine.
+//! `SELECT-FROM-WHERE-GROUP BY-ORDER BY-LIMIT` slice with joins, aliases,
+//! aggregates (`COUNT`, `SUM`, `MIN`, `MAX`, `AVG`), and a physical
+//! operator layer with filter push-down. It is not yet a full SQL engine.
 
 pub mod catalog;
 pub mod chase;
 pub mod execution;
 pub mod frontend;
+pub mod io;
 pub mod planner;
 pub mod relational;
 pub mod sql;
@@ -17,6 +20,7 @@ pub mod sql;
 // Curated convenience re-exports for the current public crate surface.
 // Lower-level reasoning and provenance APIs remain under `query_engine::chase`.
 pub use chase::{
-    Atom, ChaseConfig, ChaseError, ChaseResult, ChaseVariant, Instance, Rule, RuleBuilder, Term,
+    Atom, ChaseConfig, ChaseError, ChaseResult, ChaseVariant, Instance, NegativeConstraint,
-    chase, chase_with_config, oblivious_chase, skolem_chase, standard_chase,
+    NegativeConstraintBuilder, Rule, RuleBuilder, Term, chase, chase_stratified, chase_with_config,
+    oblivious_chase, skolem_chase, standard_chase,
 };

src/planner/mod.rs

@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@
 //! - [`sql`]: translation from SQL AST into the current logical-plan subset
 //!
 //! At the moment this is intentionally small and covers the current SQL slice:
-//! filtering, ordering, projection, and basic joins over predicate-backed
+//! filtering, ordering, projection, basic joins, `GROUP BY` aggregation,
-//! tables.
+//! and `LIMIT` over predicate-backed tables.
 
 pub mod logical;
 pub mod sql;

src/sql/mod.rs

@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 //! Minimal SQL front-end scaffolding.
 //!
-//! The current SQL layer supports a narrow `SELECT-FROM-WHERE-ORDER BY` subset
+//! The current SQL layer supports a narrow
-//! over predicate-backed tables, including comma-join style multi-table
+//! `SELECT-FROM-WHERE-GROUP BY-ORDER BY-LIMIT` subset over predicate-backed
-//! queries, table aliases, and `AND` in filter predicates. It provides:
+//! tables, including comma-join style multi-table queries, table aliases,
+//! `AND`/`OR` filter predicates, `=`/`!=`/`<>` operators, and aggregate
+//! functions (`COUNT`, `SUM`, `MIN`, `MAX`, `AVG`) with `GROUP BY`. It
+//! provides:
 //!
 //! - a small AST in [`ast`]
 //! - a parser in [`parser`]

src/sql/parser.rs

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ enum Token {
     Ne,
 }
 
-/// Parse a `SELECT-FROM-WHERE-ORDER BY` query in the current SQL subset.
+/// Parse a `SELECT-FROM-WHERE-GROUP BY-ORDER BY-LIMIT` query in the current SQL subset.
 pub fn parse_select(input: &str) -> Result<Select, ParseError> {
     let tokens = tokenize(input)?;
     let mut parser = Parser::new(tokens);

tests/integration_tests.rs

@@ -185,3 +185,63 @@ fn test_self_join_rule() {
     let same_team = result.instance.facts_for_predicate("SameTeam");
     assert_eq!(same_team.len(), 5);
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn stratified_negation_derives_isolated_nodes() {
+    use query_engine::chase::{ChaseConfig, chase_stratified};
+
+    let instance: Instance = vec![
+        Atom::new("Node", vec![Term::constant("a")]),
+        Atom::new("Node", vec![Term::constant("b")]),
+        Atom::new("Node", vec![Term::constant("c")]),
+        Atom::new("Edge", vec![Term::constant("a"), Term::constant("b")]),
+    ]
+    .into_iter()
+    .collect();
+
+    // Stratum 0: Edge(X, Y) -> Connected(X)
+    let rule1 = RuleBuilder::new()
+        .when("Edge", vec![Term::var("X"), Term::var("Y")])
+        .then("Connected", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .build();
+
+    // Stratum 1: Node(X), NOT Connected(X) -> Isolated(X)
+    let rule2 = RuleBuilder::new()
+        .when("Node", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .when_not("Connected", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .then("Isolated", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .build();
+
+    let result = chase_stratified(instance, &[rule1, rule2], ChaseConfig::default());
+
+    assert!(result.terminated);
+    let connected = result.instance.facts_for_predicate("Connected");
+    assert_eq!(connected.len(), 1); // only "a" has an outgoing edge
+    let isolated = result.instance.facts_for_predicate("Isolated");
+    assert_eq!(isolated.len(), 2); // "b" and "c"
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn negation_without_stratification_fires_in_single_round() {
+    // A simple case: negation refers to a predicate that is never derived.
+    let instance: Instance = vec![
+        Atom::new("Person", vec![Term::constant("alice")]),
+        Atom::new("Person", vec![Term::constant("bob")]),
+        Atom::new("Fired", vec![Term::constant("bob")]),
+    ]
+    .into_iter()
+    .collect();
+
+    // Person(X), NOT Fired(X) -> Active(X)
+    let rule = RuleBuilder::new()
+        .when("Person", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .when_not("Fired", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .then("Active", vec![Term::var("X")])
+        .build();
+
+    let result = chase(instance, &[rule]);
+    assert!(result.terminated);
+    let active = result.instance.facts_for_predicate("Active");
+    assert_eq!(active.len(), 1);
+    assert_eq!(active[0].terms[0], Term::constant("alice"));
+}