# Approximate long-document edit comparison

Family 121: Almost-linear approximation of edit distance. First review, 8 October 2026.

## Problem and potential new use

Archives can triage long candidate pairs by approximate unit-cost edit distance.

## Applicability and commercial boundary

The statement gives an estimate rather than an alignment, uses fixed accuracy and is asymptotic in string length.

## Initial business decision

Conditional engineering. Buyer demand and profitability remain hypotheses. This first pass does not establish a validated commercial market.

## Next verification action

Estimate finite parameter overhead and compare with optimized exact Levenshtein code.

## Evidence scope

Catalog statement reviewed; inspect linked opportunity dossier for any deeper source review. This record alone does not establish full manuscript or proof verification.

Source revision `fd4aeeb2ee4fc729c18d98444fed42fd0529eeeb`. See [source metadata](source.json) for the exact manuscripts and available scope notes.