reserved_act_unstaffed

The running jobjob_7Hq2 · delivered · document.fr-CA.pdf · $49.00 charged

A step performs a reserved act, and no role that does it holds the credential its row reserves it to.

FixFails inExit
Give the step to a role that holds the credential, or set the role's credential to one that meets it.services/translation.ts:9 · roles.translator.credential1

Owned by Add a signer: the page that explains what this gate holds.

npx services.dev check
  ✗ A step performs a reserved act, and no role that does it holds the credential its row reserves it to. Give the step to a role that holds the credential, or set the role's credential to one that meets it. sign performs sign, reserved to sworn translator (rules 2026-10), and the translator role holds only translator.
    at services/translation.ts:9 · roles.translator.credential
✗ 1 to fix
services/translation.ts
import { Service } from 'services.dev'
import rules from '../rules.ts'

export default Service({
  name: 'Translation',
  input: { document: 'file', to: 'language: a BCP 47 tag, such as fr-CA' },
  output: { document: 'file' },
  rules,
  roles: { translator: { credential: 'translator' } },
  deliver: {
    translate: 'ai',
    harden: { review: 'adversarial', lenses: ['meaning', 'terms'] },
    sign: { by: 'translator', stamp: true },
  },
  price: 89,
})
git add -A && git diff --staged
diff --git a/services/translation.ts b/services/translation.ts
index 0585d1f..d9dc9a6 100644
--- a/services/translation.ts
+++ b/services/translation.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ export default Service({
   input: { document: 'file', to: 'language: a BCP 47 tag, such as fr-CA' },
   output: { document: 'file' },
   rules,
-  roles: { translator: { credential: 'translator' } },
+  roles: { translator: { credential: 'sworn translator' } },
   deliver: {
     translate: 'ai',
     harden: { review: 'adversarial', lenses: ['meaning', 'terms'] },
npx services.dev check
✓ ready to sell · 1 Service · it keeps at least 80% of every job
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.' },
    },
  },
})

How the legal example passes this gate, in lines read from its files.

examples/legal/rules.ts
'provisional-patent': {
// …
  sign: { reserved: practitioner, where: '*', self: true, rail: 'brand', position: 'Signed by a registered practitioner, or by the applicant for themselves.' },
examples/legal/pools/attorneys.ts
roles: {
// …
  practitioner: { credential: ['patent attorney', 'patent agent'], where: '*' },
examples/legal/services/provisional-patent.ts
roles: { practitioner: { pool: attorneys, pay: 150 } },
deliver: {
// …
  sign: { by: 'practitioner', stamp: true, est: '1h', checklist: ['the claims read on the disclosure', 'every inventor is named', 'a reasonable inquiry was made'] },

Read them in context: The rules table, The attorneys' Pool, Provisional patent application.

npx services.dev check --json · the reserved_act_unstaffed failure
{
  "code": "reserved_act_unstaffed",
  "reason": "A step performs a reserved act, and no role that does it holds the credential its row reserves it to.",
  "next": "Give the step to a role that holds the credential, or set the role's credential to one that meets it. sign performs sign, reserved to sworn translator (rules 2026-10), and the translator role holds only translator.",
  "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/reserved_act_unstaffed",
  "file": "services/translation.ts",
  "line": 9,
  "path": "roles.translator.credential"
}
The whole document check --json prints
npx services.dev check --json
{
  "ai": {
    "cents_per_call": 42,
    "simulated": true
  },
  "mcp": {
    "tools": 13,
    "tokens": 4490,
    "sandbox": 9,
    "budget": 8000
  },
  "files": [
    {
      "path": "rules.ts",
      "lines": 6,
      "kind": "rules",
      "says": "rules 2026-10 · 1 Service · 1 row"
    }
  ],
  "services": [