# ordering
determines the sequence in which segments are played - linear, deterministic "random," palindromic, or looped - defining macro-temporal navigation over a pre-segmented timeline.

## introduction
the `ordering` domain sits in the structure layer, immediately after segmentation and before hierarchy or interpolation.\
given a fixed list of segments (from `segmentation`), it outputs a precomputed sequence of segment indices.\
no runtime decision-making or external randomness: every order is fully determined by two normalized parameters `a` and `b`.
## overview
each form yields an infinite or bounded sequence of segment references:
### 0. `linear`
- behavior: walks through segments in numeric order, optionally reversed
- analogy: reading pages front-to-back or back-to-front
- parameters:
  - `a`: start-index offset (0 → first segment, 1 → last segment)
  - `b`: direction flag (0 → forward, 1 → backward)
### 1. `random_shuffle`
- behavior: deterministically permutes the segment list using a seed derived from `a`; interpolation by `b` blends between identity and full shuffle
- analogy: shuffling a deck with a tunable "riffle strength"
- parameters:
  - `a`: shuffle seed (0 → seed 0, 1 → max seed)
  - `b`: shuffle intensity (0 → no change, 1 → full random permutation)
### 2. `palindrome`
- behavior: plays segments forward then in reverse, back-and-forth without re-repeating endpoints (unless toggled)
- analogy: a ping-pong ball bouncing between walls
- parameters:
  - `a`: endpoint repetition (0 → do not repeat first/last, 1 → repeat)
  - `b`: phase offset within the palindromic cycle (0 → cycle start, 1 → just before repeating)
### 3. `windowed_loop`
- behavior: isolates a contiguous sub-range of segments and repeats that window indefinitely
- analogy: looping a favorite four-bar phrase on a sampler
- parameters:
  - `a`: window start position (fractional 0 → first segment, 1 → last)
  - `b`: window size (fraction of total segments, mapping 0→1 to 1 segment→all segments)
## parameter behavior summary
- `linear`
  - `a`: selects which segment to begin playback
  - `b`: chooses play direction
- `random_shuffle`
  - `a`: picks a deterministic seed for permutation
  - `b`: controls blend from original order (0) to fully shuffled (1)
- `palindrome`
  - `a`: toggles whether cycle endpoints repeat
  - `b`: shifts starting point within the forward-reverse cycle
- `windowed_loop`
  - `a`: sets the fractional start of the loop window
  - `b`: determines window length as a fraction of total segment count
## why these were chosen
- core navigational modes: linear, shuffled, mirrored, and loop-focused orders cover the main styles of macro-temporal arrangement
- orthogonality: each form provides a distinct ordering mechanism irreducible to the others without extra parameters or data
- two-parameter purity: both `a` and `b` drive meaningful, musically relevant variations in sequence structure
- deterministic repeatability: all permutations and cycles are fully determined by `a`, `b`, and the known segment list
## what is not included
- real-time randomness or live reseeding: all "random" behavior is baked in at design time
- nested or hierarchical reordering: segment nesting belongs to `hierarchy`
- time-based transitions or crossfades between orders: out of scope for macro navigation
- content-aware ordering (e.g. based on segment loudness): purely structural, not data-driven
## conclusion
the `ordering` domain codifies four essential, deterministic strategies for sequencing pre-segmented material - linear, shuffled, palindromic, and looped - each navigable with just two parameters, preserving the system's ethos of parametric purity and full precomputation.