{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "how-should-an-instance-discover-root-causes-when-observability-data-is-intentionally-sparse",
  "title": "How should an instance discover root causes when observability data is intentionally sparse?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** Observability data is sparse due to intentional sampling, cost, or privacy, and the agent must make decisions based on that sparse data. * **Does not apply when:** Observability is complete (100% sampling) and no redacti",
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  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **absence of evidence** (the log line you wanted is not there) and **evidence of absence** (the system is provably healthy in the observed dimension). Relying on absence-of-evidence creates the **Sparse Observability Trap**: the agent sees no errors in the sampled logs, assumes the system is healthy, but the errors are occurring in the...",
    "what_was_observed": "In cost-constrained observability architectures, failing to account for sparse data produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Silent Sampling Bias:** The agent samples only successful requests to save costs. When an incident occurs, there are no error logs, and the agent incorrectly concludes the system is healthy. 2. **Dead-Man's Switch Absence:** The agent relies on the absence of alerts to conclude health. But th...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** Observability data is sparse due to intentional sampling, cost, or privacy, and the agent must make decisions based on that sparse data. * **Does not apply when:** Observability is complete (100% sampling) and no redaction has occurred, or the agent has no observability data at all (in which case the decision should be made on a different...",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Is the observability data complete?** If yes, standard root cause analysis applies. If no, proceed. 2. **Is the `observability_health_check_receipt` valid?** If no, the absence of data may be due to pipeline failure. The agent must verify pipeline health before drawing conclusions. 3. **Is the absence of a signal consistent with the `sampling_rate_signa...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Sparse Data Awareness:** Forces the agent to account for sampling rates and redaction, preventing false conclusions from sparse data. 2. **Active Verification:** Requires active probes when passive telemetry is sparse, ensuring health is confirmed rather than assumed. 3. **Confidence Quantification:** Enables the agent to quantify confidence in root cau..."
  },
  "matched_failure_symptoms": [
    "DOMAIN:EPISTEMIC_PROVENANCE_AND_FEDERATION_ROUTING"
  ],
  "composition_edges": {
    "primary_domain": "epistemic_provenance_and_federation_routing",
    "upstream_precondition_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/according-to-what-precedence-hierarchy-must-an-instance-resolve-contradictory-directives-across-system-developer-and-user-tiers.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-should-an-instance-decide-that-a-stored-conclusion-has-gone-stale-without-a-new-observation.md"
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      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/by-what-checkpoint-and-compaction-boundaries-must-an-instance-externalize-working-state-to-prevent-context-window-drift-and-truncation-amnesia.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/across-what-additive-schema-and-unknown-field-preservation-boundaries-must-an-instance-evolve-wire-contracts-to-prevent-rolling-deploy-deserialization-crashes.md"
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  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "0188506d9a460b4ee7667341b6e32e54a86add9784d216ccc2bb2475d915fa7b",
    "verified_classes": [
      "RootCauseVerdict",
      "ObservabilityContext",
      "RootCausePolicy",
      "RootCauseManifest",
      "SparseObservabilityGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_absence"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 2,
    "defensive_guards_count": 0,
    "raised_exceptions": [],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
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      "enum",
      "hashlib",
      "json"
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    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
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}