--- title: "clock_due_unreadable" url: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/clock_due_unreadable --- # clock_due_unreadable URL: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/clock_due_unreadable > A clock's due function can't give a date for the Service's own example order: it throws, or returns something that isn't a date. On a real order the clock would never open, and the owner console would alarm. | Fix | Fails in | Suggests | Exit | |---|---|---|---| | Return a civil date such as '2027-04-15' from what the order has, or nothing until it has it. | `services/translation.ts:7` · `clocks.deliver_by.due` | `clocks.deliver_by.due: job => job.input., such as '2027-04-15'` | 1 | **Owned by** [Clocks](https://services.dev/docs/service/clocks.md): the page that explains what this gate holds. ## What check says ```txt title="npx services.dev check" ✗ A clock's due function can't give a date for the Service's own example order: it throws, or returns something that isn't a date. On a real order the clock would never open, and the owner console would alarm. Return a civil date such as '2027-04-15' from what the order has, or nothing until it has it. clocks.deliver_by.due threw on the Service's example order: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'name'). at services/translation.ts:7 · clocks.deliver_by.due ✗ 1 to fix ``` ## The failing file ```ts title="services/translation.ts" import { Service } from 'services.dev' export default Service({ name: 'Translation', input: { document: 'file', to: 'language: a BCP 47 tag, such as fr-CA' }, output: { document: 'file' }, clocks: { deliver_by: { due: job => `${job.output.document.name.slice(0, 10)}`, owner: 'buyer' } }, price: 49, }) ``` ## The fix ```diff title="git add -A && git diff --staged" diff --git a/services/translation.ts b/services/translation.ts index 6eaf669..e60fa29 100644 --- a/services/translation.ts +++ b/services/translation.ts @@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ import { Service } from 'services.dev' export default Service({ name: 'Translation', - input: { document: 'file', to: 'language: a BCP 47 tag, such as fr-CA' }, + input: { document: 'file', to: 'language: a BCP 47 tag, such as fr-CA', needed_by: 'date: such as 2026-12-01' }, output: { document: 'file' }, - clocks: { deliver_by: { due: job => `${job.output.document.name.slice(0, 10)}`, owner: 'buyer' } }, + clocks: { deliver_by: { due: job => job.input.needed_by, owner: 'buyer' } }, price: 49, }) ``` ```txt title="npx services.dev check" ✓ ready to sell · 1 Service · AI delivers it alone · it keeps at least 80% of every job ``` ## In the tax example How the tax example passes this gate, in lines read from its files. ```ts title="examples/tax/lib/tax.ts" /** When the year's return is due in each jurisdiction: the statute's date, or a later one an extension the client already filed set. The calendar rolls it. */ export const fileDue = (job: AnyView, j: string) => [statutory(job, j), String(job.input.extended_to ?? '')].sort()[1] || statutory(job, j) // … /** The earliest date any carryforward expires: the subject's clock for them, from the job's own figures or what the taxpayer keeps. */ export const earliestExpiry = (job: AnyView) => ((job.output.carryforwards as Carryforward[] | undefined) ?? job.subject.fact('carryforwards') ?? []).flatMap(c => (c.expires ? [c.expires] : [])).sort()[0] ?? '' ``` ```ts title="examples/tax/services/annual-return.ts" clocks: { file: { due: fileDue, each: { of: 'jurisdictions' }, owner: 'of_record', rungs: ['notice 90d', 'notice 30d', 'run tentative 3d', 'ack daily 5d'], moves: { extend: '6mo after due' } }, // … expiring: { due: earliestExpiry, owner: 'of_record', lives_on: 'subject', rungs: ['notice 180d'] }, ``` Read them in context: [Two clocks](https://services.dev/docs/examples/tax/deadline.md), [Annual return](https://services.dev/docs/examples/tax/annual-return.md). ## Explained in - [Clocks](https://services.dev/docs/service/clocks.md) - [Dates at risk](https://services.dev/docs/operate/dates.md) - [A date the world sets](https://services.dev/docs/grow/clock.md) ## What an agent reads ```json title="npx services.dev check --json · the clock_due_unreadable failure" { "code": "clock_due_unreadable", "reason": "A clock's due function can't give a date for the Service's own example order: it throws, or returns something that isn't a date. On a real order the clock would never open, and the owner console would alarm.", "next": "Return a civil date such as '2027-04-15' from what the order has, or nothing until it has it. clocks.deliver_by.due threw on the Service's example order: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'name').", "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/clock_due_unreadable", "file": "services/translation.ts", "line": 7, "path": "clocks.deliver_by.due", "suggest": { "path": "clocks.deliver_by.due", "value": "job => job.input., such as '2027-04-15'" } } ```
The whole document check --json prints ```json title="npx services.dev check --json" { "ai": { "cents_per_call": 42, "simulated": true }, "mcp": { "tools": 13, "tokens": 4486, "sandbox": 9, "budget": 8000 }, "services": [ { "path": "services/translation.ts", "lines": 5, "steps": "draft · ai → review · ai · adversarial", "ok": false, "price": "$49 per job, within 48 hours, charged on delivery.", "who": "AI delivers every job.", "clocks": [ "deliver_by · a date your code decides · the buyer" ], "agent": { "tool": "order_translation", "words": 24, "job": "job_7Hq2", "status": "accepted", "on": null, "charged": 4900, "person": false, "why": "" }, "ledger": "+$49.00 · AI $0.84 (example) · you $48.16", "approved_ledger": null, "outcome": null, "margin": { "floor": { "cents": 3920, "pct": 80 }, "own": 3920, "stop": 980, "nested": [] }, "apps": [ "customer portal", "owner console" ], "failures": [ { "code": "clock_due_unreadable", "reason": "A clock's due function can't give a date for the Service's own example order: it throws, or returns something that isn't a date. On a real order the clock would never open, and the owner console would alarm.", "next": "Return a civil date such as '2027-04-15' from what the order has, or nothing until it has it. clocks.deliver_by.due threw on the Service's example order: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'name').", "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/clock_due_unreadable", "file": "services/translation.ts", "line": 7, "path": "clocks.deliver_by.due", "suggest": { "path": "clocks.deliver_by.due", "value": "job => job.input., such as '2027-04-15'" } } ] } ] } ```
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