--- title: "reserved_act_unstaffed" url: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/reserved_act_unstaffed --- # reserved_act_unstaffed URL: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/reserved_act_unstaffed > A step performs a reserved act, and no role that does it holds the credential its row reserves it to. | Fix | Fails in | Exit | |---|---|---| | 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.credential` | 1 | **Owned by** [Add a signer](https://services.dev/docs/grow/role.md): the page that explains what this gate holds. ## What check says ```txt title="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 ``` ## The failing file ```ts title="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, }) ``` ## The fix ```diff title="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'] }, ``` ```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.' }, }, }, }) ``` ## In the legal example How the legal example passes this gate, in lines read from its files. ```ts title="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.' }, ``` ```ts title="examples/legal/pools/attorneys.ts" roles: { // … practitioner: { credential: ['patent attorney', 'patent agent'], where: '*' }, ``` ```ts title="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](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/rules.md), [The attorneys' Pool](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/pool.md), [Provisional patent application](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/provisional-patent.md). ## Explained in - [Add a signer](https://services.dev/docs/grow/role.md) - [Pool(): your marketplace](https://services.dev/docs/people/pool.md) - [Refusals and cures](https://services.dev/docs/people/refusals.md) - [Roles](https://services.dev/docs/people/roles.md) - [Rules: how a Service meets licensing by design](https://services.dev/docs/people/rules.md) ## What an agent reads ```json title="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 ```json title="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": [ { "path": "services/translation.ts", "lines": 11, "steps": "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 · translator · your staff" ], "rules": "2026-10", "boundary": { "full": [ "reserved sign to sworn translator" ] }, "agent": { "tool": "order_translation", "words": 26, "job": "job_7Hq2", "status": "waiting", "on": "person", "charged": null, "person": true, "why": "" }, "ledger": "+$89.00 · AI $1.26 (example) · you $87.74", "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": "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" } ] } ] } ```
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