--- title: "rule_unread" url: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/rule_unread --- # rule_unread URL: https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/rule_unread > The rules table binds a name nothing reads: a key that names no Service file, or a row no step performs that is neither an advice class nor refused. | Fix | Fails in | Exit | |---|---|---| | Rename it to what it means, or take it out. | `rules.ts:8` · `rules.services['translation'].notarize` | 1 | **Owned by** [Build it](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/build.md): the page that explains what this gate holds. ## What check says ```txt title="npx services.dev check" ✗ The rules table binds a name nothing reads: a key that names no Service file, or a row no step performs that is neither an advice class nor refused. Rename it to what it means, or take it out. rules.services['translation'].notarize is a row no step of translation performs. A row binds nothing until a step does its act. at rules.ts:8 · rules.services['translation'].notarize ✗ 1 to fix ``` ## The failing file ```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.' }, notarize: { reserved: 'sworn translator', where: '*', position: 'A notary seals a translation for a registry.' }, }, }, }) ``` ## The fix ```diff title="git add -A && git diff --staged" diff --git a/rules.ts b/rules.ts index ab66914..ea708e3 100644 --- a/rules.ts +++ b/rules.ts @@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ export default Rules({ services: { translation: { sign: { reserved: 'sworn translator', where: '*', position: 'A sworn translator signs a translation filed with a registry.' }, - notarize: { reserved: 'sworn translator', where: '*', position: 'A notary seals a translation for a registry.' }, }, }, }) ``` ```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="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: 'sworn translator' } }, deliver: { translate: 'ai', harden: { review: 'adversarial', lenses: ['meaning', 'terms'] }, sign: { by: 'translator', stamp: true }, }, price: 89, }) ``` ## In the legal example How the legal example passes this gate, in lines read from its files. ```ts title="examples/legal/rules.ts" 'trademark-response': { // … fee: { open: true, position: 'Paying the office its fee is a delivery act.' }, // … shared: { litigate: { refused: true, route: 'https://referrals.example.test/litigation', position: 'Litigation is retained directly, never ordered here.' } }, ``` ```ts title="examples/legal/services/trademark-response.ts" deliver: { // … fee: { routed: true, submit: 'https://filings.example.test/fees', to: 'USPTO', receipt: 'receipt', next: () => 'file' }, ``` Read them in context: [The rules table](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/rules.md), [Trademark response](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/trademark-response.md). ## Explained in - [Build it](https://services.dev/docs/examples/legal/build.md) - [Build it](https://services.dev/docs/examples/tax/build.md) ## What an agent reads ```json title="npx services.dev check --json · the rule_unread failure" { "code": "rule_unread", "reason": "The rules table binds a name nothing reads: a key that names no Service file, or a row no step performs that is neither an advice class nor refused.", "next": "Rename it to what it means, or take it out. rules.services['translation'].notarize is a row no step of translation performs. A row binds nothing until a step does its act.", "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/rule_unread", "file": "rules.ts", "line": 8, "path": "rules.services['translation'].notarize" } ```
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": 7, "kind": "rules", "says": "rules 2026-10 · 1 Service · 2 rows" } ], "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 · sworn 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": "rule_unread", "reason": "The rules table binds a name nothing reads: a key that names no Service file, or a row no step performs that is neither an advice class nor refused.", "next": "Rename it to what it means, or take it out. rules.services['translation'].notarize is a row no step of translation performs. A row binds nothing until a step does its act.", "doc_url": "https://services.dev/docs/reference/check/rule_unread", "file": "rules.ts", "line": 8, "path": "rules.services['translation'].notarize" } ] } ] } ```
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