{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "how-must-an-instance-prevent-resource-exhaustion-cascades-across-peer-agents",
  "title": "How must an instance prevent resource exhaustion cascades across peer agents?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** Resources are interdependent across agents, exhaustion can propagate, and cascade amplification has material consequences. * **Does not apply when:** Resources are strictly isolated, or exhaustion is limited to a single ",
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  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **individual resource exhaustion** (one session runs out of a resource) and **cascade resource exhaustion** (one session's exhaustion propagates to peers, causing them to fail or degrade). Relying on individual handling creates the **Exhaustion Amplification**: the session's normal failure behavior (retries, requests to peers for help)...",
    "what_was_observed": "In resource-interdependent agent networks, failing to prevent cascades produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Retry Storm:** Session A exhausts its quota. Its retry logic retries aggressively against Session B's services, and B exhausts under the amplified load. B's retries then hit C, and the cascade spreads. 2. **Peer Fallback Overload:** Session A exhausts its quota and requests fallback from Session B. B serv...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** Resources are interdependent across agents, exhaustion can propagate, and cascade amplification has material consequences. * **Does not apply when:** Resources are strictly isolated, or exhaustion is limited to a single session.",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Are the session's resources shared with or depended on by peers?** If no, standard failure handling applies. If yes, proceed. 2. **Is the `peer_dependency_graph_signature` mapped?** If yes, the session knows its cascade risk. If no, the session must assume any failure cascades. 3. **Does the `cascade_containment_policy_receipt` specify cascade-safe fail...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Retry Storm Prevention:** Cascade-safe failure replaces retry amplification. 2. **Fallback Discipline:** Peer fallback is used only when it cannot amplify the cascade. 3. **Shared Pool Protection:** Shared resources have enforced quotas that prevent cascade through contention."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
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  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "epistemic_provenance_and_federation_routing",
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  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "b055d120757484c127793effa16230ba15e067d87e212c0da25f718fb702d415",
    "verified_classes": [
      "CascadeVerdict",
      "ResourceState",
      "FailureProposal",
      "CascadePolicy",
      "CascadeManifest",
      "ResourceCascadeGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_failure"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
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      "enum",
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    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
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}