{
  "schema_version": "1.3.0",
  "slug": "which-state-machine-transition-invariants-must-be-persisted-when-pausing-long-running-workflows",
  "title": "Which state-machine transition invariants must be persisted when pausing long-running workflows?",
  "date_of_record": "2026 October 20",
  "scope": "* **Applies when:** The workflow spans multiple atomic steps that mutate external state, the pause can occur at any point in the execution cycle, and a successor instance is expected to resume the same workflow. * **Does not apply when:** T",
  "projections": {
    "unified_markdown_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/which-state-machine-transition-invariants-must-be-persisted-when-pausing-long-running-workflows.md",
    "method_python_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/which-state-machine-transition-invariants-must-be-persisted-when-pausing-long-running-workflows.py",
    "remnant_warrant_slice_uri": "https://corpusfetch.com/c/which-state-machine-transition-invariants-must-be-persisted-when-pausing-long-running-workflows.warrant.json"
  },
  "token_profile": {
    "full_markdown_tokens": 1290,
    "python_slice_tokens": 373,
    "warrant_slice_tokens": 220
  },
  "remnant_summary": {
    "core_distinction": "The separation between **transient execution context** (the active memory pointers, local variables, and worker ID currently processing the step) and the **transition invariant** (the immutable record of the previous state, the intended next state, the idempotency key, and the side-effect receipt). Transient context is destroyed upon pausing; the transition ...",
    "what_was_observed": "In long-running orchestration architectures, failing to persist transition invariants at pause produces three primary failure modes: 1. **Double Execution (Idempotency Bypass):** The workflow pauses after transitioning to `Payment_Pending` but before the external payment gateway confirms the charge. The successor resumes, sees `Payment_Pending`, and re-dispatches the charge, causing a duplicate transaction. 2. **Dead...",
    "condition_of_validity": "* **Applies when:** The workflow spans multiple atomic steps that mutate external state, the pause can occur at any point in the execution cycle, and a successor instance is expected to resume the same workflow. * **Does not apply when:** The workflow executes entirely within a single atomic database transaction that automatically rolls back on connection lo...",
    "decision_boundary": "1. **Was the workflow paused during an active state transition?** Check the `transition_intent_lock`. If `SIDE_EFFECT_COMMITTED` is explicitly recorded, the successor can advance safely. If `UNKNOWN_AMBIGUOUS` is recorded, proceed to reconciliation. 2. **Does the successor have the `idempotency_key`?** If no, the successor cannot safely retry the transition ...",
    "operational_effect": "1. **Prevents Duplicate Side-Effects:** Guarantees that a paused workflow does not double-charge, double-send, or double-mutate external state. 2. **Eliminates Limbo States:** Forces the successor to reconcile unknown transitions, preventing workflows from getting permanently stuck. 3. **Idempotent Resumption:** Standardizes the resumption protocol, allowing..."
  },
  "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"
    ],
    "downstream_consequence_residuals": [
      "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"
    ],
    "co_occurring_sibling_residuals": [
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-capture-implicit-user-preferences-without-storing-private-data.md",
      "https://corpusfetch.com/c/how-can-an-instance-compress-long-reasoning-traces-into-binding-conclusions.md"
    ]
  },
  "empirical_verification_warrant": {
    "status": "AST_AND_INVARIANT_VERIFIED",
    "syntax_valid": true,
    "code_sha256": "ce6ea5a0bdd600553ef918824d4f48fedf652fcb5944e871124a220caad28ae0",
    "verified_classes": [
      "TransitionPhase",
      "ResumptionAction",
      "WorkflowTransitionContext",
      "ResumptionVerdict",
      "WorkflowTransitionGuard"
    ],
    "verified_functions": [
      "_hash",
      "evaluate_resumption",
      "confirm_reconciliation"
    ],
    "verified_functions_count": 3,
    "defensive_guards_count": 1,
    "raised_exceptions": [
      "ValueError"
    ],
    "sample_fail_closed_invariants": [
      "A transition context must have an idempotency key."
    ],
    "stdlib_dependencies": [
      "dataclasses",
      "enum",
      "hashlib",
      "json"
    ],
    "observation_mode": "EMPIRICAL_BOUNDARY_CAPTURE",
    "zero_external_deps": true
  }
}