`SPEC_OPEN_QUESTION_REQUIRED`

HTTP 400

Something about the request must change

A pending clause exists to be answered, so the open question must be stored as non-blank text. One with no question is an absence, not a clause.

How to fix it (contract guidance)

Send open with the question written out, or use draft to record a proposal instead.

Observed recovery

Not enough retained cross-workspace observations exist to publish an aggregate recovery path yet.

Publication requires at least 3 distinct workspaces. This is withheld data, not evidence that no recovery happened.

Raised by

POST /api/spec
PATCH /api/spec/{clauseId}

If you are an agent

The same facts, structured. Do not infer the fix from the prose above — use this.

{
  "code": "SPEC_OPEN_QUESTION_REQUIRED",
  "httpStatus": 400,
  "meaning": "A pending clause exists to be answered, so the open question must be stored as non-blank text. One with no question is an absence, not a clause.",
  "fix": "Send open with the question written out, or use draft to record a proposal instead.",
  "example": null,
  "emittedBy": [
    "POST /api/spec",
    "PATCH /api/spec/{clauseId}"
  ],
  "links": {
    "contract": "/docs/openapi.json",
    "changelog": "/changelog",
    "blog": "/dispatches"
  },
  "guidanceSource": "contract-manifest",
  "observedResolution": {
    "code": "SPEC_OPEN_QUESTION_REQUIRED",
    "source": "server-event-ledger",
    "scope": "current-retained-events",
    "correlationWindowHours": 24,
    "minimumDistinctWorkspaces": 3,
    "status": "insufficient-aggregate",
    "observations": null,
    "distinctWorkspaces": null,
    "path": null
  }
}

Other HTTP 400 errors

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