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FA-74036 / Feature flag rollout bucketing / Open access

Flag value cache freshness: Only the first fetch starts the ttl clock · case 01

Clients go stale 30 seconds after startup even though they refetch continuously.

Verified by executionVariant 1 · 8 checks per implementationDownload source bundle ↓JSON ↗

ROOT CAUSE

fetched_at is assigned only when it is still None.

VERIFIED REPAIR

Record the time of every fetch.

Unsuccessful approach: Skipping the timestamp for empty payloads still lets a successful empty refresh go stale.

Case contract

Process events in order. ["fetch", t, payload] replaces the whole cache with payload, records t and clears kill switches; ["kill", t, flag] forces that flag to its default; ["get", t, flag, default] returns [default, killed] for killed flags, else [default, stale] if nothing was fetched or t - last fetch >= 30 seconds, else [default, missing] if the flag is not cached, else [value, cache]. Return the list of get results.

Why this case matters

Client SDKs serve cached flags offline; kill switches and staleness decide whether a bad flag keeps serving.

1 / The failure

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json

N = 1
observations = []
def solve(events):
    cache = {}
    fetched_at = None
    killed = set()
    out = []
    for ev in events:
        kind, t = ev[0], ev[1]
        if kind == 'fetch':
            cache = dict(ev[2])
            if fetched_at is None:
                fetched_at = t
            killed = set()
        elif kind == 'kill':
            killed.add(ev[2])
        else:
            flag, default = ev[2], ev[3]
            if flag in killed:
                out.append([default, 'killed'])
            elif fetched_at is None or t - fetched_at >= 30:
                out.append([default, 'stale'])
            elif flag not in cache:
                out.append([default, 'missing'])
            else:
                out.append([cache[flag], 'cache'])
    return out
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('value is stale at exactly the ttl',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 30, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'stale']]),
  ('fractional age just under the ttl is fresh',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 29.5, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('second fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {'a': 2}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[2, 'cache']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 1',
   [[['kill', 30, 'a'], ['fetch', 40, {'c': 3, 'b': False}], ['kill', 41, 'a']]],
   [])],
 [('fractional age just under the ttl is fresh',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 29.5, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 6',
   [[['fetch', 5, {'a': 'b', 'c': 3}],
     ['fetch', 6, {'c': True}],
     ['get', 6.5, 'b', False],
     ['get', 7.0, 'a', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 17.0, 'a', False],
     ['fetch', 27.0, {}],
     ['get', 57.0, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 87.0, 'b', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [False, 'missing'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [False, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 57',
   [[['get', 1, 'a', 0],
     ['get', 31, 'a', 'dflt'],
     ['kill', 31.5, 'c'],
     ['fetch', 32.5, {'c': False, 'b': True}],
     ['get', 62.0, 'b', False],
     ['fetch', 92.0, {}],
     ['get', 97.0, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 107.0, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [True, 'cache'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [0, 'missing']])],
 [('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 11',
   [[['get', 10, 'a', 0], ['get', 11, 'c', 'dflt'], ['get', 11.5, 'c', False]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [False, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 46',
   [[['fetch', 5, {'b': False, 'c': False}],
     ['fetch', 10, {'c': 'b', 'a': False}],
     ['kill', 20, 'b'],
     ['get', 30, 'a', 0],
     ['get', 35, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 35, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'cache'], ['dflt', 'killed'], [False, 'cache']])],
 [('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('killed flag beats staleness',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['get', 40, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'killed']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 16',
   [[['get', 10, 'b', 0],
     ['get', 40, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 69.5, 'a', 0],
     ['fetch', 79.5, {'a': 'b'}],
     ['fetch', 84.5, {'c': 'b'}],
     ['kill', 85.0, 'b'],
     ['fetch', 95.0, {'b': 3, 'c': False}]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [0, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 44',
   [[['kill', 0.5, 'a'],
     ['get', 5.5, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['fetch', 15.5, {}],
     ['fetch', 45.5, {}],
     ['get', 75.0, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 75.0, 'b', 0]]],
   [['dflt', 'stale'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [0, 'missing']])],
 [('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('killed flag beats staleness',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['get', 40, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'killed']]),
  ('second fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {'a': 2}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[2, 'cache']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 21',
   [[['get', 5, 'a', 0], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False, 'b': True}], ['get', 5, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], [True, 'cache']]),
  ('event stream sample 38',
   [[['get', 5, 'c', 0],
     ['fetch', 34.5, {'c': True}],
     ['kill', 44.5, 'b'],
     ['kill', 54.5, 'a'],
     ['fetch', 55.0, {'c': 3, 'b': True}],
     ['kill', 55.5, 'c'],
     ['fetch', 85.5, {}],
     ['get', 95.5, 'a', 'dflt']]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'missing']])]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N - 1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
value is stale at exactly the ttl[[False, 'stale']][[False, 'stale']]Passed
fractional age just under the ttl is fresh[[True, 'cache']][[True, 'cache']]Passed
refetch removes flags absent from payload[['d', 'missing']][['d', 'missing']]Passed
empty payload clears the cache[[False, 'missing']][[False, 'missing']]Passed
refetch clears kill switches[[True, 'cache']][[True, 'cache']]Passed
second fetch refreshes the ttl clock[[0, 'stale']][[2, 'cache']]Failed
empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock[[0, 'stale']][[0, 'missing']]Failed
event stream sample 1[][]Passed

SHA-256 / 4247e95c0786e19ba120ed12cde4eb0294d0e1042dbd02da6b820df2b941434a

2 / The unsuccessful fix

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json

N = 1
observations = []
def solve(events):
    cache = {}
    fetched_at = None
    killed = set()
    out = []
    for ev in events:
        kind, t = ev[0], ev[1]
        if kind == 'fetch':
            cache = dict(ev[2])
            fetched_at = t if ev[2] else fetched_at
            killed = set()
        elif kind == 'kill':
            killed.add(ev[2])
        else:
            flag, default = ev[2], ev[3]
            if flag in killed:
                out.append([default, 'killed'])
            elif fetched_at is None or t - fetched_at >= 30:
                out.append([default, 'stale'])
            elif flag not in cache:
                out.append([default, 'missing'])
            else:
                out.append([cache[flag], 'cache'])
    return out
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('value is stale at exactly the ttl',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 30, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'stale']]),
  ('fractional age just under the ttl is fresh',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 29.5, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('second fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {'a': 2}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[2, 'cache']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 1',
   [[['kill', 30, 'a'], ['fetch', 40, {'c': 3, 'b': False}], ['kill', 41, 'a']]],
   [])],
 [('fractional age just under the ttl is fresh',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 29.5, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 6',
   [[['fetch', 5, {'a': 'b', 'c': 3}],
     ['fetch', 6, {'c': True}],
     ['get', 6.5, 'b', False],
     ['get', 7.0, 'a', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 17.0, 'a', False],
     ['fetch', 27.0, {}],
     ['get', 57.0, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 87.0, 'b', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [False, 'missing'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [False, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 57',
   [[['get', 1, 'a', 0],
     ['get', 31, 'a', 'dflt'],
     ['kill', 31.5, 'c'],
     ['fetch', 32.5, {'c': False, 'b': True}],
     ['get', 62.0, 'b', False],
     ['fetch', 92.0, {}],
     ['get', 97.0, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 107.0, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [True, 'cache'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [0, 'missing']])],
 [('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 11',
   [[['get', 10, 'a', 0], ['get', 11, 'c', 'dflt'], ['get', 11.5, 'c', False]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [False, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 46',
   [[['fetch', 5, {'b': False, 'c': False}],
     ['fetch', 10, {'c': 'b', 'a': False}],
     ['kill', 20, 'b'],
     ['get', 30, 'a', 0],
     ['get', 35, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 35, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'cache'], ['dflt', 'killed'], [False, 'cache']])],
 [('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('killed flag beats staleness',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['get', 40, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'killed']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 16',
   [[['get', 10, 'b', 0],
     ['get', 40, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 69.5, 'a', 0],
     ['fetch', 79.5, {'a': 'b'}],
     ['fetch', 84.5, {'c': 'b'}],
     ['kill', 85.0, 'b'],
     ['fetch', 95.0, {'b': 3, 'c': False}]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [0, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 44',
   [[['kill', 0.5, 'a'],
     ['get', 5.5, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['fetch', 15.5, {}],
     ['fetch', 45.5, {}],
     ['get', 75.0, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 75.0, 'b', 0]]],
   [['dflt', 'stale'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [0, 'missing']])],
 [('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('killed flag beats staleness',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['get', 40, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'killed']]),
  ('second fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {'a': 2}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[2, 'cache']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 21',
   [[['get', 5, 'a', 0], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False, 'b': True}], ['get', 5, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], [True, 'cache']]),
  ('event stream sample 38',
   [[['get', 5, 'c', 0],
     ['fetch', 34.5, {'c': True}],
     ['kill', 44.5, 'b'],
     ['kill', 54.5, 'a'],
     ['fetch', 55.0, {'c': 3, 'b': True}],
     ['kill', 55.5, 'c'],
     ['fetch', 85.5, {}],
     ['get', 95.5, 'a', 'dflt']]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'missing']])]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N - 1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
value is stale at exactly the ttl[[False, 'stale']][[False, 'stale']]Passed
fractional age just under the ttl is fresh[[True, 'cache']][[True, 'cache']]Passed
refetch removes flags absent from payload[['d', 'missing']][['d', 'missing']]Passed
empty payload clears the cache[[False, 'missing']][[False, 'missing']]Passed
refetch clears kill switches[[True, 'cache']][[True, 'cache']]Passed
second fetch refreshes the ttl clock[[2, 'cache']][[2, 'cache']]Passed
empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock[[0, 'stale']][[0, 'missing']]Failed
event stream sample 1[][]Passed

SHA-256 / f722119137b8cf89d9addb2fa6b5897c4742fc7b79aa40faa4c5af45a462ae89

3 / The verified repair

Exit 0
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json

N = 1
observations = []
def solve(events):
    cache = {}
    fetched_at = None
    killed = set()
    out = []
    for ev in events:
        kind, t = ev[0], ev[1]
        if kind == 'fetch':
            cache = dict(ev[2])
            fetched_at = t
            killed = set()
        elif kind == 'kill':
            killed.add(ev[2])
        else:
            flag, default = ev[2], ev[3]
            if flag in killed:
                out.append([default, 'killed'])
            elif fetched_at is None or t - fetched_at >= 30:
                out.append([default, 'stale'])
            elif flag not in cache:
                out.append([default, 'missing'])
            else:
                out.append([cache[flag], 'cache'])
    return out
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('value is stale at exactly the ttl',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 30, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'stale']]),
  ('fractional age just under the ttl is fresh',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 29.5, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('second fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {'a': 2}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[2, 'cache']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 1',
   [[['kill', 30, 'a'], ['fetch', 40, {'c': 3, 'b': False}], ['kill', 41, 'a']]],
   [])],
 [('fractional age just under the ttl is fresh',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['get', 29.5, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 6',
   [[['fetch', 5, {'a': 'b', 'c': 3}],
     ['fetch', 6, {'c': True}],
     ['get', 6.5, 'b', False],
     ['get', 7.0, 'a', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 17.0, 'a', False],
     ['fetch', 27.0, {}],
     ['get', 57.0, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 87.0, 'b', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [False, 'missing'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [False, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 57',
   [[['get', 1, 'a', 0],
     ['get', 31, 'a', 'dflt'],
     ['kill', 31.5, 'c'],
     ['fetch', 32.5, {'c': False, 'b': True}],
     ['get', 62.0, 'b', False],
     ['fetch', 92.0, {}],
     ['get', 97.0, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 107.0, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [True, 'cache'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [0, 'missing']])],
 [('refetch removes flags absent from payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True, 'b': 'x'}], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False}], ['get', 6, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'missing']]),
  ('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 11',
   [[['get', 10, 'a', 0], ['get', 11, 'c', 'dflt'], ['get', 11.5, 'c', False]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [False, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 46',
   [[['fetch', 5, {'b': False, 'c': False}],
     ['fetch', 10, {'c': 'b', 'a': False}],
     ['kill', 20, 'b'],
     ['get', 30, 'a', 0],
     ['get', 35, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 35, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'cache'], ['dflt', 'killed'], [False, 'cache']])],
 [('empty payload clears the cache',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['fetch', 5, {}], ['get', 6, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'missing']]),
  ('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('killed flag beats staleness',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['get', 40, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'killed']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 16',
   [[['get', 10, 'b', 0],
     ['get', 40, 'c', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 69.5, 'a', 0],
     ['fetch', 79.5, {'a': 'b'}],
     ['fetch', 84.5, {'c': 'b'}],
     ['kill', 85.0, 'b'],
     ['fetch', 95.0, {'b': 3, 'c': False}]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'stale'], [0, 'stale']]),
  ('event stream sample 44',
   [[['kill', 0.5, 'a'],
     ['get', 5.5, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['fetch', 15.5, {}],
     ['fetch', 45.5, {}],
     ['get', 75.0, 'b', 'dflt'],
     ['get', 75.0, 'b', 0]]],
   [['dflt', 'stale'], ['dflt', 'missing'], [0, 'missing']])],
 [('refetch clears kill switches',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 3, 'a', False]]],
   [[True, 'cache']]),
  ('refetch clears a kill on an uncached flag',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['fetch', 2, {'a': True}], ['get', 4, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('kill of a flag missing from the payload',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'b'], ['get', 2, 'b', 'd']]],
   [['d', 'killed']]),
  ('killed flag beats staleness',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': True}], ['kill', 1, 'a'], ['get', 40, 'a', False]]],
   [[False, 'killed']]),
  ('second fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {'a': 2}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[2, 'cache']]),
  ('empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock',
   [[['fetch', 0, {'a': 1}], ['fetch', 25, {}], ['get', 40, 'a', 0]]],
   [[0, 'missing']]),
  ('event stream sample 21',
   [[['get', 5, 'a', 0], ['fetch', 5, {'a': False, 'b': True}], ['get', 5, 'b', 0]]],
   [[0, 'stale'], [True, 'cache']]),
  ('event stream sample 38',
   [[['get', 5, 'c', 0],
     ['fetch', 34.5, {'c': True}],
     ['kill', 44.5, 'b'],
     ['kill', 54.5, 'a'],
     ['fetch', 55.0, {'c': 3, 'b': True}],
     ['kill', 55.5, 'c'],
     ['fetch', 85.5, {}],
     ['get', 95.5, 'a', 'dflt']]],
   [[0, 'stale'], ['dflt', 'missing']])]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N - 1]:
    check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
Boundary fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
value is stale at exactly the ttl[[False, 'stale']][[False, 'stale']]Passed
fractional age just under the ttl is fresh[[True, 'cache']][[True, 'cache']]Passed
refetch removes flags absent from payload[['d', 'missing']][['d', 'missing']]Passed
empty payload clears the cache[[False, 'missing']][[False, 'missing']]Passed
refetch clears kill switches[[True, 'cache']][[True, 'cache']]Passed
second fetch refreshes the ttl clock[[2, 'cache']][[2, 'cache']]Passed
empty fetch refreshes the ttl clock[[0, 'missing']][[0, 'missing']]Passed
event stream sample 1[][]Passed

SHA-256 / b120078615e571b6141f78c91e6589402d0ebfda0df92127ce4618b0e37865d0

Verification & scope

A deterministic toy flag-evaluation model with a stipulated contract; it does not reproduce any vendor SDK byte for byte. 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.

Observations recorded using Python 3.12.14 at 2026-09-29T14:48:52.996655+00:00.

Case digest / 9d84ed8fbf55e257ad0c106a1cf0a6e8bcd1b3fa56b9d88c88d9eb388ea75645