--- title: "client_decision_gated" url: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/client_decision_gated --- # client_decision_gated URL: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/client_decision_gated > A rules row reserves a decision to the client, and the step isn't an ask to the client, or a guard ahead of it refuses what the client would decide. | Fix | Fails in | Suggests | Exit | |---|---|---|---| | Make the step an ask to the client party, and turn the guard into a signal: the client sees every offer. | `services/translation.ts:12` · `deliver.choose` | `deliver.choose: { ask: 'client', to: 'decide', choices: [...] }` | 1 | **Owned by** [Two sovereigns](https://services.dev/docs/people/sovereignty.md): the page that explains what this gate holds. ## What check says ```txt title="npx services.dev check" ✗ A rules row reserves a decision to the client, and the step isn't an ask to the client, or a guard ahead of it refuses what the client would decide. Make the step an ask to the client party, and turn the guard into a signal: the client sees every offer. choose is the client's decision alone under rules 2026-10, and choose is done by ai: make it an ask to client. at services/translation.ts:12 · deliver.choose ✗ 1 to fix ``` ## The failing file ```ts title="services/translation.ts" import { Service } from 'services.dev' import rules from '../rules.ts' export default Service({ name: 'Translation', description: 'A document, translated and signed.', input: { document: 'file', to: 'language: a BCP 47 tag, such as fr-CA', client: 'party' }, output: { document: 'file' }, rules, roles: { translator: { credential: 'sworn translator' } }, deliver: { choose: 'ai', translate: 'ai', harden: { review: 'adversarial', lenses: ['meaning', 'terms'] }, sign: { by: 'translator', stamp: true }, }, price: 89, }) ``` ## The fix ```diff title="git add -A && git diff --staged" diff --git a/services/translation.ts b/services/translation.ts index f1b7df0..8bf1bf0 100644 --- a/services/translation.ts +++ b/services/translation.ts @@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ export default Service({ rules, roles: { translator: { credential: 'sworn translator' } }, deliver: { - choose: 'ai', + choose: { ask: 'client', to: 'decide', choices: ['formal', 'plain'] }, translate: 'ai', harden: { review: 'adversarial', lenses: ['meaning', 'terms'] }, sign: { by: 'translator', stamp: true }, ``` ```txt title="npx services.dev check" ✓ ready to sell · 1 Service · it keeps at least 80% of every job ``` ## The rest of the brand ```ts title="rules.ts" import { Rules } from 'services.dev' export default Rules({ version: '2026-10', services: { translation: { sign: { reserved: 'sworn translator', where: '*', position: 'A sworn translator signs a translation filed with a registry.' }, choose: { client: true, position: 'Which register a translation takes is the client\'s decision.' }, }, }, }) ``` ## In the legal example How the legal example passes this gate, in lines read from its files. ```ts title="examples/legal/rules.ts" 'demand-letter': { // … settle: { client: true, position: 'Whether to settle, and for how much, is the client\'s decision alone.' }, ``` ```ts title="examples/legal/services/demand-letter.ts" deliver: { // … settle: { ask: 'client', to: 'decide', choices: ['accept', 'counter', 'close the file'], when: job => job.output.settlement !== undefined }, ``` Read them in context: [The rules table](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/rules.md), [Demand letter](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/demand-letter.md). ## Explained in - [Two sovereigns](https://services.dev/docs/people/sovereignty.md) ## What an agent reads ```json title="npx services.dev check --json · the client_decision_gated failure" { "code": "client_decision_gated", "reason": "A rules row reserves a decision to the client, and the step isn't an ask to the client, or a guard ahead of it refuses what the client would decide.", "next": "Make the step an ask to the client party, and turn the guard into a signal: the client sees every offer. choose is the client's decision alone under rules 2026-10, and choose is done by ai: make it an ask to client.", "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/client_decision_gated", "file": "services/translation.ts", "line": 12, "path": "deliver.choose", "suggest": { "path": "deliver.choose", "value": "{ ask: 'client', to: 'decide', choices: [...] }" } } ```
The whole document check --json prints ```json title="npx services.dev check --json" { "ai": { "cents_per_call": 42, "simulated": true }, "mcp": { "tools": 13, "tokens": 4529, "sandbox": 9, "budget": 8000 }, "files": [ { "path": "rules.ts", "lines": 7, "kind": "rules", "says": "rules 2026-10 · 1 Service · 2 rows" } ], "services": [ { "path": "services/translation.ts", "lines": 13, "steps": "choose · ai → translate · ai → harden · ai · adversarial · 2 lenses → sign · translator · * · stamped", "ok": false, "price": "$89 per job, within 48 hours, charged on delivery.", "who": "A translator signs every document before delivery. (rules 2026-10)", "roles": [ "translator · sworn translator · your staff" ], "rules": "2026-10", "boundary": { "full": [ "the client decides choose, alone", "reserved sign to sworn translator" ] }, "agent": { "tool": "order_translation", "words": 20, "job": null, "status": null, "on": null, "charged": null, "person": false, "why": "add \"such as …\" to client for an agent to try it" }, "ledger": "+$89.00 · AI $1.68 (example) · you $87.32", "approved_ledger": null, "outcome": null, "margin": { "floor": { "cents": 7120, "pct": 80 }, "own": 7120, "stop": 1780, "nested": [] }, "apps": [ "customer portal", "delivery portal", "owner console" ], "failures": [ { "code": "client_decision_gated", "reason": "A rules row reserves a decision to the client, and the step isn't an ask to the client, or a guard ahead of it refuses what the client would decide.", "next": "Make the step an ask to the client party, and turn the guard into a signal: the client sees every offer. choose is the client's decision alone under rules 2026-10, and choose is done by ai: make it an ask to client.", "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/client_decision_gated", "file": "services/translation.ts", "line": 12, "path": "deliver.choose", "suggest": { "path": "deliver.choose", "value": "{ ask: 'client', to: 'decide', choices: [...] }" } } ] } ] } ```
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