Report a blocker¶
Use this procedure when a Bridge execution cannot establish a required result. Preserve useful work and identify the next actor without changing task status. W-bridge
1. Capture the concrete obstruction¶
- Record the failing command or MCP tool, exit/error and affected criterion ID. W-end
- Name the missing binary, import, socket, permission, dependency or contract field. R-db
- Separate observed failure from diagnosis; mark a suspected cause as an inference. A-result
- Read the frozen task again if the obstruction appears to contradict its contract. E-task
- Keep the criterion unchanged; do not replace it with an easier passing check. E-task
- Do not install, bypass a denial, use another project's credential or invent an approval. R-db
2. Decide what can continue¶
Use this decision table and report the branch you actually took. W-scope
| Observation | Action now | Result to retain |
|---|---|---|
| Optional diagnostic is unavailable | Continue required methods | Name the diagnostic not run |
| One required check lacks a dependency/socket | Run unaffected checks | FAIL for unmet criterion; exact missing capability |
| Only a named sandbox exception is allowed by the criterion | Apply that exception alone | Affected test names and observed denial |
| Scope or required decision is unresolved | Stop dependent changes | Three-part request to the decision holder |
| Identity/profile mismatch or execution authorization revoked | Stop writes and implementation | Error and last safe Git checkpoint |
| Assigned worktree has conflicting unrelated changes | Preserve those changes; stop conflicting edits | Files/branch/HEAD; coordinator request |
- Continue authorized work that does not depend on the blocker. W-scope
- Do not stop merely because an old handoff says blocked when this attempt is explicitly authorized. E-resume
- Stop on an expired/revoked execution capability; do not recreate or renew your own assignment. E-cap
- Never retry an ambiguous mutating command blindly; inspect the durable result first. E-cap
3. Write the three-part blocker¶
Fill all three fields; use roles or session labels, not “someone”. W-block
what: <specific obstruction + affected criterion + command/error>
who_moves: <coordinator | DevOps | owner | named dependency executor>
needed: <one concrete decision, prepared capability or dependency result>
- Route scope, sequencing and reassignment questions to the coordinator. W-owner
- Route prepared sandbox/tool capability needs through the coordinator to the environment operator. W-block
- Name the owner only for a reserved decision, sign-in or required consent. W-owner
- Do not ask the owner to relay messages between agents. W-owner
- Request a separately prepared environment, not permission to improvise an installation. R-db
Use this synthetic example as a shape, not as a claim about the current run. R-db
what: db-suite cannot collect; ModuleNotFoundError: webauthn; exit 2
who_moves: coordinator, then the Bridge environment operator
needed: re-dispatch in an existing dependency-complete environment; no worker install
4. Preserve a resumable checkpoint¶
- Record repository, assigned branch, source/base commit and last committed result. A-git
- List completed files and actual test outcomes, separating prepared/tested/deployed states. A-result
- Commit safe partial work only within scope; leave carried candidate history intact. E-resume
- Identify uncommitted intended files separately; never call them a committed checkpoint. A-git
- Set
next_stepto the first executable command after the named dependency is supplied. W-pause - State which failed checks must rerun; avoid instructions that require the old conversation. A-result
- Preserve error output in the authorized evidence file; redact values and memory bodies. A-security
5. Return partial work through the execution contract¶
- As worker, append RESULT/receipt with
task_result, including the three-partreceipt.blockers. E-cap - Include per-criterion pass/fail records; never count “blocked” as a passed criterion. E-count
- Include cause/confidence, SHAs, tests, completed work and next step in the receipt/result. A-git
- Use a stable execution-specific idempotency key; retry only the unchanged logical payload. E-result
- As verifier, return limitations in criterion feedback; use no RESULT or status mutation. E-cap
- If RESULT is rejected after lease expiry, return the error and checkpoint in final output. E-cap
- Leave task status, acceptance and any re-dispatch to Bridge/server and the authorized dispatcher. W-bridge
- On re-dispatch, reread the new frozen version and resume from the supplied candidate/base. E-resume