Tension Theory — The Theory of Everything (v0.1)

This paper proposes a foundational model in which tension is treated as the primary
primitive underlying physical, informational, and computational structure. The
model assumes a finite capacity for memory and local state updates, from which
form, time, and causality emerge as secondary effects. Unlike prevailing frameworks
that rely on continuous global states or infinite precision, this approach constrains
all evolution to discrete, local interactions governed by informational cost.

In this framework, time is not a fundamental dimension but the result of irreversible
state transitions under memory limitation. Space arises as relational structure
within a graph of interacting states. Particles and fields are stable or quasi-stable
configurations of tension gradients, maintained through constrained update rules.
Observation corresponds to selective state coupling rather than external
measurement.

The theory aims to reconcile elements of physics and computation by modeling
reality as a locally updating system with bounded memory, avoiding the need for
global wave functions, continuous manifolds, or observer-dependent collapse. It
provides a basis for simulation-first physics, where predictions are derived from
executable rules rather than closed-form solutions.

The paper outlines core postulates, formal definitions, and a minimal state-
transition model, then demonstrates how known physical phenomena can emerge
from these constraints. Finally, it identifies testable predictions and open problems,
positioning the theory as a candidate framework for unifying physical law with
information-theoretic limits.