refactor(8.0): remove the 4 deprecated query-operator aliases (clean break)

8.0 keeps the canonical operators (eq/ne/gt/gte/lt/lte) and their clean
long-form aliases (equals/notEquals/greaterThan/greaterThanOrEqual/lessThan/
lessThanOrEqual), and drops the four redundant deprecated spellings:
  is → eq,  isNot → ne,  greaterEqual → gte,  lessEqual → lte

Removed from every evaluator (metadataIndex criteria + range switches,
metadataFilter, the db whereMatcher egress path) and from the
BrainyFieldOperators type, the unsupported-operator error message, the docs
(QUERY_OPERATORS / api README / VFS projection + semantic guides), and the
whereMatcher alias tests. Also migrated Brainy's own internal use — the VFS
TemporalProjection queried with greaterEqual/lessEqual, which would have
silently broken — to gte/lte.

Full gate green: build, unit 1512, integration 607.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

docs/QUERY_OPERATORS.md

@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ All operators work with `find({ where: { ... } })` and filter on **metadata fiel
 
 | Operator | Alias | Description | Example |
 |----------|-------|-------------|---------|
-| `equals` | `eq`, `is` | Exact match | `{ status: { equals: 'active' } }` |
+| `eq` | `equals` | Exact match | `{ status: { eq: 'active' } }` |
-| `notEquals` | `ne`, `isNot` | Not equal | `{ status: { notEquals: 'deleted' } }` |
+| `ne` | `notEquals` | Not equal | `{ status: { ne: 'deleted' } }` |
 
 **Shorthand:** A bare value is treated as `equals`:
 
@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ brain.find({ where: { status: { equals: 'active' } } })
 
 | Operator | Alias | Description | Example |
 |----------|-------|-------------|---------|
-| `greaterThan` | `gt` | Greater than | `{ age: { greaterThan: 18 } }` |
+| `gt` | `greaterThan` | Greater than | `{ age: { gt: 18 } }` |
-| `greaterEqual` | `gte` | Greater or equal | `{ score: { greaterEqual: 90 } }` |
+| `gte` | `greaterThanOrEqual` | Greater or equal | `{ score: { gte: 90 } }` |
-| `lessThan` | `lt` | Less than | `{ price: { lessThan: 100 } }` |
+| `lt` | `lessThan` | Less than | `{ price: { lt: 100 } }` |
-| `lessEqual` | `lte` | Less or equal | `{ rating: { lessEqual: 3 } }` |
+| `lte` | `lessThanOrEqual` | Less or equal | `{ rating: { lte: 3 } }` |
 | `between` | — | Inclusive range `[min, max]` | `{ year: { between: [2020, 2025] } }` |
 
 ```typescript
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ Brainy's MetadataIndex supports a subset of operators natively for O(1) field lo
 | `equals` / `eq` | Yes | Yes |
 | `notEquals` / `ne` | — | Yes |
 | `greaterThan` / `gt` | Yes | Yes |
-| `greaterEqual` / `gte` | Yes | Yes |
+| `greaterThanOrEqual` / `gte` | Yes | Yes |
 | `lessThan` / `lt` | Yes | Yes |
-| `lessEqual` / `lte` | Yes | Yes |
+| `lessThanOrEqual` / `lte` | Yes | Yes |
 | `between` | Yes | Yes |
 | `oneOf` / `in` | Yes | Yes |
 | `noneOf` | — | Yes |

docs/api/README.md

@@ -413,9 +413,9 @@ Brainy uses clean, readable operators (BFO — Brainy Field Operators):
 | `equals` / `eq` | Exact match | `{age: {equals: 25}}` |
 | `notEquals` / `ne` | Not equal | `{status: {notEquals: 'deleted'}}` |
 | `greaterThan` / `gt` | Greater than | `{age: {greaterThan: 18}}` |
-| `greaterEqual` / `gte` | Greater or equal | `{score: {greaterEqual: 90}}` |
+| `gte` / `greaterThanOrEqual` | Greater or equal | `{score: {gte: 90}}` |
 | `lessThan` / `lt` | Less than | `{price: {lessThan: 100}}` |
-| `lessEqual` / `lte` | Less or equal | `{rating: {lessEqual: 3}}` |
+| `lte` / `lessThanOrEqual` | Less or equal | `{rating: {lte: 3}}` |
 | `between` | Inclusive range | `{year: {between: [2020, 2025]}}` |
 | `oneOf` / `in` | In array | `{color: {oneOf: ['red', 'blue']}}` |
 | `noneOf` | Not in array | `{status: {noneOf: ['deleted']}}` |

docs/vfs/PROJECTION_STRATEGY_API.md

@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ export class SizeProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
       where: {
         vfsType: 'file',
         size: {
-          greaterEqual: min,
+          gte: min,
           lessThan: max
         }
       },
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ export class SizeProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
       where: {
         vfsType: 'file',
         size: {
-          greaterEqual: min,
+          gte: min,
           lessThan: max
         }
       },
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ export class StatusProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
       const results = await brain.find({
         where: {
           vfsType: 'file',
-          modified: { greaterEqual: oneDayAgo },
+          modified: { gte: oneDayAgo },
           reviewStatus: { missing: true }  // No review status set
         },
         limit: 1000
@@ -387,7 +387,7 @@ export class StatusProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
         vfsType: 'file',
         anyOf: [
           { reviewStatus: { exists: true } },
-          { modified: { greaterEqual: Date.now() - 86400000 } }
+          { modified: { gte: Date.now() - 86400000 } }
         ]
       },
       limit
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ Projection strategies use **Brainy Field Operators** (BFO), not MongoDB-style op
 { size: { $gte: 1000, $lte: 5000 } }
 
 // ✅ BFO style (CORRECT)
-{ size: { greaterEqual: 1000, lessEqual: 5000 } }
+{ size: { gte: 1000, lte: 5000 } }
 ```
 
 ### Logical Operators
@@ -451,9 +451,9 @@ Projection strategies use **Brainy Field Operators** (BFO), not MongoDB-style op
 // Comparison
 { field: value }                          // Exact match
 { field: { greaterThan: 10 } }           // >
-{ field: { greaterEqual: 10 } }          // >=
+{ field: { gte: 10 } }          // >=
 { field: { lessThan: 10 } }              // <
-{ field: { lessEqual: 10 } }             // <=
+{ field: { lte: 10 } }             // <=
 { field: { not: value } }                // !=
 
 // Logical
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ All metadata fields are automatically indexed. Use direct equality or range quer
 ```typescript
 // ✅ Fast: Direct index lookup (O(log n))
 { priority: 'high' }
-{ size: { greaterEqual: 1000 } }
+{ size: { gte: 1000 } }
 
 // ⚠️ Slower: Must scan results
 { path: { matches: /complex-regex/ } }
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ async resolve(brain, vfs, period: string) {
 
   const results = await brain.find({
     where: {
-      modified: { greaterEqual: since }
+      modified: { gte: since }
     }
   })
   return this.extractIds(results)

docs/vfs/SEMANTIC_VFS.md

@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ await vfs.readFile('/as-of/2024-03-15/auth.ts')
 // the path only resolves if auth.ts was modified that day
 ```
 
-**How it works:** Tracks the `modified` timestamp on every file and runs a range query (`greaterEqual`/`lessEqual`) over one 24-hour window for O(log n) performance. The VFS does not store historical file contents — `/as-of/` filters by *when a file last changed*; reads return the current bytes. For point-in-time state, use the Db API (`brain.asOf(generation)`).
+**How it works:** Tracks the `modified` timestamp on every file and runs a range query (`gte`/`lte`) over one 24-hour window for O(log n) performance. The VFS does not store historical file contents — `/as-of/` filters by *when a file last changed*; reads return the current bytes. For point-in-time state, use the Db API (`brain.asOf(generation)`).
 
 **Status:** ✅ Fully implemented and tested at 10K file scale
 

src/db/whereMatcher.ts

@@ -39,9 +39,9 @@ export class UnsupportedWhereOperatorError extends Error {
   constructor(operator: string) {
     super(
       `The where-operator '${operator}' is not supported for historical/speculative ` +
-        `in-memory evaluation. Supported: eq/equals/is, ne/notEquals/isNot, in/oneOf, ` +
+        `in-memory evaluation. Supported: eq/equals, ne/notEquals, in/oneOf, ` +
-        `gt/greaterThan, gte/greaterThanOrEqual/greaterEqual, lt/lessThan, ` +
+        `gt/greaterThan, gte/greaterThanOrEqual, lt/lessThan, ` +
-        `lte/lessThanOrEqual/lessEqual, between, contains, exists, missing, ` +
+        `lte/lessThanOrEqual, between, contains, exists, missing, ` +
         `plus allOf/anyOf/not.`
     )
     this.name = 'UnsupportedWhereOperatorError'
@@ -150,12 +150,10 @@ function fieldConditionMatches(value: unknown, condition: unknown): boolean {
   for (const [op, operand] of Object.entries(condition as Record<string, unknown>)) {
     let matches: boolean
     switch (op) {
-      case 'is':
       case 'equals':
       case 'eq':
         matches = eqMatches(value, operand)
         break
-      case 'isNot':
       case 'notEquals':
       case 'ne':
         matches = !eqMatches(value, operand)
@@ -170,7 +168,6 @@ function fieldConditionMatches(value: unknown, condition: unknown): boolean {
         matches = cmp !== null && cmp > 0
         break
       }
-      case 'greaterEqual':
       case 'greaterThanOrEqual':
       case 'gte': {
         const cmp = compare(value, operand)
@@ -183,7 +180,6 @@ function fieldConditionMatches(value: unknown, condition: unknown): boolean {
         matches = cmp !== null && cmp < 0
         break
       }
-      case 'lessEqual':
       case 'lessThanOrEqual':
       case 'lte': {
         const cmp = compare(value, operand)

src/utils/metadataFilter.ts

@@ -11,17 +11,21 @@ import { SearchResult, HNSWNoun, HNSWNounWithMetadata } from '../coreTypes.js'
  * Designed for performance, clarity, and patent independence
  */
 export interface BrainyFieldOperators {
-  // Equality operators
+  // Equality operators (canonical + long-form aliases)
+  eq?: any
   equals?: any
+  ne?: any
   notEquals?: any
-  is?: any
-  isNot?: any
 
-  // Comparison operators
+  // Comparison operators (canonical + long-form aliases)
   greaterThan?: any
-  greaterEqual?: any
+  gt?: any
+  greaterThanOrEqual?: any
+  gte?: any
   lessThan?: any
-  lessEqual?: any
+  lt?: any
+  lessThanOrEqual?: any
+  lte?: any
   between?: [any, any]
   
   // Array/Set operators
@@ -45,14 +49,6 @@ export interface BrainyFieldOperators {
   allOf?: MetadataFilter[]
   anyOf?: MetadataFilter[]
   not?: MetadataFilter
-  
-  // Short aliases for common operations
-  eq?: any
-  ne?: any
-  gt?: any
-  gte?: any
-  lt?: any
-  lte?: any
 }
 
 /**
@@ -88,12 +84,10 @@ function matchesQuery(value: any, query: any): boolean {
     switch (op) {
       // Equality operators
       case 'equals':
-      case 'is':
       case 'eq':
         if (value !== operand) return false
         break
       case 'notEquals':
-      case 'isNot':
       case 'ne':
         // Special handling: if value is undefined and operand is not undefined,
         // they are not equal (so the condition passes)
@@ -108,7 +102,6 @@ function matchesQuery(value: any, query: any): boolean {
       case 'gt':
         if (typeof value !== 'number' || typeof operand !== 'number' || !(value > operand)) return false
         break
-      case 'greaterEqual':
       case 'gte':
         if (typeof value !== 'number' || typeof operand !== 'number' || !(value >= operand)) return false
         break
@@ -116,7 +109,6 @@ function matchesQuery(value: any, query: any): boolean {
       case 'lt':
         if (typeof value !== 'number' || typeof operand !== 'number' || !(value < operand)) return false
         break
-      case 'lessEqual':
       case 'lte':
         if (typeof value !== 'number' || typeof operand !== 'number' || !(value <= operand)) return false
         break

src/utils/metadataIndex.ts

@@ -1760,7 +1760,6 @@ export class MetadataIndexManager implements MetadataIndexProvider {
               }
               break
             case 'equals':
-            case 'is':
             case 'eq':
               criteria.push({ field: key, values: [operand] })
               break
@@ -1770,8 +1769,6 @@ export class MetadataIndexManager implements MetadataIndexProvider {
               break
             case 'greaterThan':
             case 'lessThan':
-            case 'greaterEqual':
-            case 'lessEqual':
             case 'between':
               // Range queries will be handled separately
               // Sorted index will be created/loaded when needed in getIdsForRange
@@ -1881,16 +1878,14 @@ export class MetadataIndexManager implements MetadataIndexProvider {
           fieldResults = []
           switch (op) {
             // ===== EQUALITY OPERATORS =====
-            // Canonical: 'eq' | Alias: 'equals' | Deprecated: 'is'
+            // Canonical: 'eq' | Alias: 'equals'
-            case 'is':  // DEPRECATED: Use 'eq' instead
             case 'equals':  // Alias for 'eq'
             case 'eq':
               fieldResults = await this.getIds(field, operand)
               break
 
             // ===== NEGATION OPERATORS =====
-            // Canonical: 'ne' | Alias: 'notEquals' | Deprecated: 'isNot'
+            // Canonical: 'ne' | Alias: 'notEquals'
-            case 'isNot':  // DEPRECATED: Use 'ne' instead
             case 'notEquals':  // Alias for 'ne'
             case 'ne': {
               // For notEquals, we need all IDs EXCEPT those matching the value
@@ -1931,8 +1926,7 @@ export class MetadataIndexManager implements MetadataIndexProvider {
               break
 
             // ===== GREATER THAN OR EQUAL OPERATORS =====
-            // Canonical: 'gte' | Alias: 'greaterThanOrEqual' | Deprecated: 'greaterEqual'
+            // Canonical: 'gte' | Alias: 'greaterThanOrEqual'
-            case 'greaterEqual':  // DEPRECATED: Use 'gte' instead
             case 'greaterThanOrEqual':  // Alias for 'gte'
             case 'gte':
               fieldResults = await this.getIdsForRange(field, operand, undefined, true, true)
@@ -1946,8 +1940,7 @@ export class MetadataIndexManager implements MetadataIndexProvider {
               break
 
             // ===== LESS THAN OR EQUAL OPERATORS =====
-            // Canonical: 'lte' | Alias: 'lessThanOrEqual' | Deprecated: 'lessEqual'
+            // Canonical: 'lte' | Alias: 'lessThanOrEqual'
-            case 'lessEqual':  // DEPRECATED: Use 'lte' instead
             case 'lessThanOrEqual':  // Alias for 'lte'
             case 'lte':
               fieldResults = await this.getIdsForRange(field, undefined, operand, true, true)

src/vfs/semantic/projections/TemporalProjection.ts

@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ export class TemporalProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
       where: {
         vfsType: 'file',
         modified: {
-          greaterEqual: startOfDay.getTime(),  // BFO operator
+          gte: startOfDay.getTime(),  // BFO operator
-          lessEqual: endOfDay.getTime()        // BFO operator
+          lte: endOfDay.getTime()        // BFO operator
         }
       },
       limit: 1000
@@ -74,8 +74,8 @@ export class TemporalProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
       where: {
         vfsType: 'file',
         modified: {
-          greaterEqual: startOfDay.getTime(),
+          gte: startOfDay.getTime(),
-          lessEqual: endOfDay.getTime()
+          lte: endOfDay.getTime()
         }
       },
       limit: 1000
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ export class TemporalProjection extends BaseProjectionStrategy {
     const results = await brain.find({
       where: {
         vfsType: 'file',
-        modified: { greaterEqual: oneDayAgo }
+        modified: { gte: oneDayAgo }
       },
       limit
     })

tests/unit/db/whereMatcher.test.ts

@@ -80,10 +80,9 @@ describe('db/whereMatcher — operators', () => {
     expect(whereMatches(e, { status: 'closed' })).toBe(false)
   })
 
-  it('eq / equals / is aliases', () => {
+  it('eq / equals aliases', () => {
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { eq: 250 } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { equals: 250 } })).toBe(true)
-    expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { is: 250 } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { eq: 99 } })).toBe(false)
   })
 
@@ -93,10 +92,9 @@ describe('db/whereMatcher — operators', () => {
     expect(whereMatches(e, { tags: 'missing-tag' })).toBe(false)
   })
 
-  it('ne / notEquals / isNot aliases', () => {
+  it('ne / notEquals aliases', () => {
     expect(whereMatches(e, { status: { ne: 'closed' } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { status: { notEquals: 'open' } })).toBe(false)
-    expect(whereMatches(e, { status: { isNot: 'open' } })).toBe(false)
   })
 
   it('in / oneOf set membership', () => {
@@ -109,12 +107,10 @@ describe('db/whereMatcher — operators', () => {
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { greaterThan: 250 } })).toBe(false)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { gte: 250 } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { greaterThanOrEqual: 251 } })).toBe(false)
-    expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { greaterEqual: 250 } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { lt: 251 } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { lessThan: 250 } })).toBe(false)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { lte: 250 } })).toBe(true)
     expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { lessThanOrEqual: 249 } })).toBe(false)
-    expect(whereMatches(e, { amount: { lessEqual: 250 } })).toBe(true)
   })
 
   it('string range comparison is lexicographic', () => {