{"abstract":"Retry counts are looked up per conversation instead of per message, so a dead message is never recognised and blocks the queue forever.","category":"Chat ordering and read receipts","checks":7,"contract":"outbox items {nonce, conv, order, next_try}. Per conversation, messages are sent strictly in numeric `order`: the head is the lowest-order message that is neither acknowledged nor dead (failed attempts >= 5). Dead messages are skipped without blocking. The head is dispatched when next_try <= now; later messages always wait for it. Result: nonces to dispatch, by conversation id then order.","contract_signature":"outbox, acked, failed, now","evaluation_group":"w2-chat_ordering_and_read_receipts-outbox-dispatch","failed_approach":"Skipping dead messages only when they are due still lets a dead head with a future retry block the queue. The attempted `if failed.get(m['nonce'], 0) >= 5 and m['next_try'] <= now:` still disagrees with a fixture.","family":"w2-chat_ordering_and_read_receipts-outbox-dispatch-dead-does-not-block","id":"FA-76181","implementations":{"attempt":{"sha256":"c34ce3a7b206f676420987006e42f2df806c42faceb969f53637ac8a99ea208e","source":"\"\"\"Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only.\"\"\"\nimport json\n\nN = 1\nobservations = []\ndef solve(outbox, acked, failed, now):\n    done = set(acked)\n    out = []\n    by_conv = {}\n    for m in outbox:\n        by_conv.setdefault(m['conv'], []).append(m)\n    for conv in sorted(by_conv):\n        for m in sorted(by_conv[conv], key=lambda m: m['order']):\n            if m['nonce'] in done:\n                continue\n            if failed.get(m['nonce'], 0) >= 5 and m['next_try'] <= now:\n                continue\n            if m['next_try'] <= now:\n                out.append(m['nonce'])\n            break\n    return out\ndef check(label, actual, expected):\n    observations.append({\"check\": label, \"actual\": actual, \"expected\": expected, \"passed\": actual == expected})\n_CASES = {1: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 101}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 6}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 41), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['p', 'q'])], 2: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 102}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 5}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 42}], [], {}, 42), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 2), ['p', 'q'])], 3: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 103}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 6}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 43}], [], {}, 43), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 3), ['p', 'q'])], 4: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 104}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 5}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 44}], [], {}, 44), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 4), ['p', 'q'])], 5: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 105}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 6}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 45}], [], {}, 45), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 5), ['p', 'q'])]}\nfor _label, _args, _expected in _CASES[N]:\n    check(_label, solve(*_args), _expected)\nprint(json.dumps({\"observations\": observations, \"passed\": all(x[\"passed\"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))\nraise SystemExit(0 if all(x[\"passed\"] for x in observations) else 1)\n"},"broken":{"sha256":"9973b3e3f5a537d2ae2637bce0b94fc235d2f9093454a20b8f287669de1ab1c4","source":"\"\"\"Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only.\"\"\"\nimport json\n\nN = 1\nobservations = []\ndef solve(outbox, acked, failed, now):\n    done = set(acked)\n    out = []\n    by_conv = {}\n    for m in outbox:\n        by_conv.setdefault(m['conv'], []).append(m)\n    for conv in sorted(by_conv):\n        for m in sorted(by_conv[conv], key=lambda m: m['order']):\n            if m['nonce'] in done:\n                continue\n            if failed.get(m['conv'], 0) >= 5:\n                continue\n            if m['next_try'] <= now:\n                out.append(m['nonce'])\n            break\n    return out\ndef check(label, actual, expected):\n    observations.append({\"check\": label, \"actual\": actual, \"expected\": expected, \"passed\": actual == expected})\n_CASES = {1: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 101}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 6}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 41), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['p', 'q'])], 2: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 102}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 5}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 42}], [], {}, 42), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 2), ['p', 'q'])], 3: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 103}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 6}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 43}], [], {}, 43), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 3), ['p', 'q'])], 4: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 104}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 5}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 44}], [], {}, 44), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 4), ['p', 'q'])], 5: [('head not yet due', ([{'nonce': 'a1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 105}, {'nonce': 'a2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 50), []), ('dead head skipped', ([{'nonce': 'd1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 999}, {'nonce': 'd2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {'d1': 6}, 10), ['d2']), ('due exactly now', ([{'nonce': 'e1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 45}], [], {}, 45), ['e1']), ('one tick early', ([{'nonce': 'f1', 'conv': 'k', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 41}], [], {}, 40), []), ('acked head', ([{'nonce': 'g1', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'g2', 'conv': 'c', 'order': 3, 'next_try': 0}], ['g1'], {}, 5), ['g2']), ('numeric order beyond nine', ([{'nonce': 'h10', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 10, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'h9', 'conv': 'z', 'order': 9, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 1), ['h9']), ('two conversations', ([{'nonce': 'q', 'conv': 'b', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'p', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 1, 'next_try': 0}, {'nonce': 'r', 'conv': 'a', 'order': 2, 'next_try': 0}], [], {}, 5), ['p', 'q'])]}\nfor _label, _args, _expected in _CASES[N]:\n    check(_label, solve(*_args), _expected)\nprint(json.dumps({\"observations\": observations, \"passed\": all(x[\"passed\"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))\nraise SystemExit(0 if all(x[\"passed\"] for x in observations) else 1)\n"}},"limitations":"Stipulated offline chat model; not a complete messaging protocol, client or server implementation. This reproducer isolates one failure mechanism. Results cover the supplied fixtures. Variants within a family share a test contract and should remain grouped when constructing evaluation splits. Related mechanisms with a shared evaluation_group must also remain together; these controlled models are not independent production incidents.","method":"Deterministic executable model with adversarial boundary fixtures.","provenance":{"created_by":"Failure Map","dependencies":"Python standard library","family":"w2-chat_ordering_and_read_receipts-outbox-dispatch-dead-does-not-block","generated_at":"2026-09-29T14:49:14.051003+00:00","license":"CC0-1.0","python":"3.12.14","seed":1,"split":"open-access"},"relevance":"Outboxes must preserve per-conversation order across retries without letting a dead message block the queue.","root_cause":"The dead does not block decision evaluates `if failed.get(m['conv'], 0) >= 5:` where the contract requires `if failed.get(m['nonce'], 0) >= 5:`.","sha256":"8386694ca14010323355c72766d684912fff0bfc4c0e587004783da2c7ef7aec","title":"Choose which queued sends to dispatch now: dead does not block · case 01","variant":1,"variant_policy":"N selects a different enumerated fixture set (shifted clocks, identifiers and sizes); boundary fixtures recur across variants.","verified":true,"visibility":"public","verification":{"attempt":{"elapsed_ms":43.296,"exit_code":1,"observations":[{"actual":[],"check":"head not yet due","expected":[],"passed":true},{"actual":[],"check":"dead head skipped","expected":["d2"],"passed":false},{"actual":["e1"],"check":"due exactly now","expected":["e1"],"passed":true},{"actual":[],"check":"one tick early","expected":[],"passed":true},{"actual":["g2"],"check":"acked head","expected":["g2"],"passed":true},{"actual":["h9"],"check":"numeric order beyond nine","expected":["h9"],"passed":true},{"actual":["p","q"],"check":"two conversations","expected":["p","q"],"passed":true}],"passed":false,"stderr":"","stdout":"{\"observations\": [{\"check\": \"head not yet due\", \"actual\": [], \"expected\": [], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"dead head skipped\", \"actual\": [], \"expected\": [\"d2\"], \"passed\": false}, {\"check\": \"due exactly now\", \"actual\": [\"e1\"], \"expected\": [\"e1\"], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"one tick early\", \"actual\": [], \"expected\": [], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"acked head\", \"actual\": [\"g2\"], \"expected\": [\"g2\"], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"numeric order beyond nine\", \"actual\": [\"h9\"], \"expected\": [\"h9\"], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"two conversations\", \"actual\": [\"p\", \"q\"], \"expected\": [\"p\", \"q\"], \"passed\": true}], \"passed\": false}\n"},"broken":{"elapsed_ms":43.494,"exit_code":1,"observations":[{"actual":[],"check":"head not yet due","expected":[],"passed":true},{"actual":[],"check":"dead head skipped","expected":["d2"],"passed":false},{"actual":["e1"],"check":"due exactly now","expected":["e1"],"passed":true},{"actual":[],"check":"one tick early","expected":[],"passed":true},{"actual":["g2"],"check":"acked head","expected":["g2"],"passed":true},{"actual":["h9"],"check":"numeric order beyond nine","expected":["h9"],"passed":true},{"actual":["p","q"],"check":"two conversations","expected":["p","q"],"passed":true}],"passed":false,"stderr":"","stdout":"{\"observations\": [{\"check\": \"head not yet due\", \"actual\": [], \"expected\": [], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"dead head skipped\", \"actual\": [], \"expected\": [\"d2\"], \"passed\": false}, {\"check\": \"due exactly now\", \"actual\": [\"e1\"], \"expected\": [\"e1\"], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"one tick early\", \"actual\": [], \"expected\": [], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"acked head\", \"actual\": [\"g2\"], \"expected\": [\"g2\"], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"numeric order beyond nine\", \"actual\": [\"h9\"], \"expected\": [\"h9\"], \"passed\": true}, {\"check\": \"two conversations\", \"actual\": [\"p\", \"q\"], \"expected\": [\"p\", \"q\"], \"passed\": true}], \"passed\": false}\n"}},"member_only":{"stages":["fixed"],"fields":["implementations.fixed","verification.fixed","harness","repair"],"note":"The verified repair, its recorded checks, the repair description, and the scoring harness are available to members."}}