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FA-74091 / Feature flag rollout bucketing / Open access

Global holdout exclusion: Holdout overrides explicit forcing · case 01

QA accounts that happen to hash into the holdout cannot be forced into treatment.

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

ROOT CAUSE

The holdout check runs before the force list.

THE FAILURE

The holdout check runs before the force list.

Unsuccessful approach: Keeping force first but matching id prefixes forces unrelated users sharing a prefix.

Case contract

h = crc32("holdout:" + user) % 100 and b = crc32(flag + ":" + user) % 100. Users listed exactly in force get treatment (forced). Otherwise h < holdout_pct puts the user in the global holdout (control, holdout). Otherwise b < rollout gives treatment, else control (reason rollout). Return [variant, reason, h, b].

Why this case matters

A global holdout measures the cumulative effect of all launches and must stay uncontaminated.

1 / The failure

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import zlib
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(user, flag, holdout_pct, rollout, force):
    h = zlib.crc32(('holdout:' + user).encode()) % 100
    b = zlib.crc32((flag + ':' + user).encode()) % 100
    if h < holdout_pct:
        return ['control', 'holdout', h, b]
    if user in force:
        return ['treatment', 'forced', h, b]
    if b < rollout:
        return ['treatment', 'rollout', h, b]
    return ['control', 'rollout', h, b]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('holdout sample 1', ['u1665', 'search', 93, 0, ['qa']], ['control', 'holdout', 92, 6]),
  ('holdout sample 2', ['u2377', 'search', 10, 20, ['u2']], ['control', 'rollout', 24, 94]),
  ('holdout sample 3', ['u1179', 'checkout', 75, 20, []], ['control', 'rollout', 75, 54])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 30', ['u633', 'checkout', 0, 0, ['u6']], ['control', 'rollout', 92, 13]),
  ('holdout sample 54', ['u2429', 'checkout', 50, 50, ['u2429']], ['treatment', 'forced', 11, 66])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 11', ['u2412', 'checkout', 50, 50, []], ['control', 'rollout', 76, 65]),
  ('holdout sample 13', ['u2042', 'search', 78, 50, ['u2042']], ['treatment', 'forced', 77, 27]),
  ('holdout sample 49', ['u731', 'search', 50, 50, ['u7']], ['control', 'holdout', 3, 73])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 6', ['u1739', 'checkout', 74, 100, ['u1739']], ['treatment', 'forced', 73, 48]),
  ('holdout sample 16', ['u1149', 'search', 48, 50, ['qa']], ['control', 'rollout', 48, 62]),
  ('holdout sample 24', ['u1180', 'search', 50, 20, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 28, 18])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 21', ['u1207', 'search', 0, 20, []], ['control', 'rollout', 66, 64]),
  ('holdout sample 22', ['u2600', 'checkout', 88, 50, []], ['control', 'holdout', 87, 42]),
  ('holdout sample 44', ['u32', 'checkout', 50, 20, ['u3']], ['control', 'rollout', 86, 57])]]
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
forced QA user inside the holdout['control', 'holdout', 6, 94]['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]Failed
forcing matches whole user ids only['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]Passed
holdout boundary is exclusive['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]Passed
holdout user with full rollout stays control['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]Passed
user outside holdout follows rollout['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]Passed
holdout sample 1['control', 'holdout', 92, 6]['control', 'holdout', 92, 6]Passed
holdout sample 2['control', 'rollout', 24, 94]['control', 'rollout', 24, 94]Passed
holdout sample 3['control', 'rollout', 75, 54]['control', 'rollout', 75, 54]Passed

SHA-256 / c87f59757f1cd29f36016acc1c3b8662150b29c648d48163d41c13f5ad487bc7

2 / The unsuccessful fix

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import zlib
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(user, flag, holdout_pct, rollout, force):
    h = zlib.crc32(('holdout:' + user).encode()) % 100
    b = zlib.crc32((flag + ':' + user).encode()) % 100
    if any(user.startswith(f) for f in force):
        return ['treatment', 'forced', h, b]
    if h < holdout_pct:
        return ['control', 'holdout', h, b]
    if b < rollout:
        return ['treatment', 'rollout', h, b]
    return ['control', 'rollout', h, b]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('holdout sample 1', ['u1665', 'search', 93, 0, ['qa']], ['control', 'holdout', 92, 6]),
  ('holdout sample 2', ['u2377', 'search', 10, 20, ['u2']], ['control', 'rollout', 24, 94]),
  ('holdout sample 3', ['u1179', 'checkout', 75, 20, []], ['control', 'rollout', 75, 54])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 30', ['u633', 'checkout', 0, 0, ['u6']], ['control', 'rollout', 92, 13]),
  ('holdout sample 54', ['u2429', 'checkout', 50, 50, ['u2429']], ['treatment', 'forced', 11, 66])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 11', ['u2412', 'checkout', 50, 50, []], ['control', 'rollout', 76, 65]),
  ('holdout sample 13', ['u2042', 'search', 78, 50, ['u2042']], ['treatment', 'forced', 77, 27]),
  ('holdout sample 49', ['u731', 'search', 50, 50, ['u7']], ['control', 'holdout', 3, 73])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout user with full rollout stays control',
   ['u14', 'checkout', 10, 100, []],
   ['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 6', ['u1739', 'checkout', 74, 100, ['u1739']], ['treatment', 'forced', 73, 48]),
  ('holdout sample 16', ['u1149', 'search', 48, 50, ['qa']], ['control', 'rollout', 48, 62]),
  ('holdout sample 24', ['u1180', 'search', 50, 20, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 28, 18])],
 [('forced QA user inside the holdout', ['u6', 'checkout', 10, 0, ['u6']], ['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]),
  ('forcing matches whole user ids only', ['u14', 'search', 10, 100, ['u1']], ['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]),
  ('holdout boundary is exclusive', ['u6', 'checkout', 6, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]),
  ('user outside holdout follows rollout', ['u777', 'search', 0, 100, []], ['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]),
  ('zero rollout control', ['u778', 'search', 0, 0, []], ['control', 'rollout', 35, 5]),
  ('holdout sample 21', ['u1207', 'search', 0, 20, []], ['control', 'rollout', 66, 64]),
  ('holdout sample 22', ['u2600', 'checkout', 88, 50, []], ['control', 'holdout', 87, 42]),
  ('holdout sample 44', ['u32', 'checkout', 50, 20, ['u3']], ['control', 'rollout', 86, 57])]]
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
forced QA user inside the holdout['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]['treatment', 'forced', 6, 94]Passed
forcing matches whole user ids only['treatment', 'forced', 9, 44]['control', 'holdout', 9, 44]Failed
holdout boundary is exclusive['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]['treatment', 'rollout', 6, 94]Passed
holdout user with full rollout stays control['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]['control', 'holdout', 9, 58]Passed
user outside holdout follows rollout['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]['treatment', 'rollout', 30, 52]Passed
holdout sample 1['control', 'holdout', 92, 6]['control', 'holdout', 92, 6]Passed
holdout sample 2['treatment', 'forced', 24, 94]['control', 'rollout', 24, 94]Failed
holdout sample 3['control', 'rollout', 75, 54]['control', 'rollout', 75, 54]Passed

SHA-256 / 18889eb1ead0f8e7de54c5f0f76e7c59dfaca433233f230dd683ccc94356622f

HELD IN THE MEMBER ARCHIVE

The verified repair and its recorded checks are member-only.

This mechanism has 8 recorded checks per implementation. The open-access tier publishes the failure and the unsuccessful fix; the repaired source that passes every check, and the observations that prove it, are available to members.

Every case sharing this mechanism uses the same contract and the same repair, so this one record is held back for all of them.

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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 2026-09-29T14:48:53.500428+00:00.

Case digest / ea58c7bc98e2d5e56c6114cf34bf8bd7edade27f829fe3700d3704243cb2d77f