Read or download the complete SDK project, then follow its setup on your computer. The separate C# companion practice below runs in SharpRune’s .NET 9 console environment.
Establish the actual boundary
An outbox addresses a local atomicity problem before it addresses delivery. The business row and its publication intent need one storage transaction, otherwise a failure between two commits can leave an order without an event or an event for a rejected order. This lesson executes both writes in SQLite and injects a failure before commit. It does not merely draw a domain-event relationship. The portable immutable bundle keeps related facts together in memory, while only the actual database experiment can establish persisted rollback. No broker, subscriber or external side effect is hidden behind creation of the outbox row.
Trace the portable program
Build accepts quantity two and creates a Draft containing that integer and the description order:2. The console therefore prints quantity:2 and event:order:2. Calling Build with zero returns null, so the final line is invalid rejected:True. These fields coexist in one ordinary record; the program performs no transaction, publication or durable write. It does not prove that two independent collections would update atomically under failure. Its value is a deterministic statement of the accepted domain facts that the external persistence operation must later commit together or leave absent together.
Observe the real external contract
The real failed POST inserts an order and outbox row inside one SQLite transaction, then deliberately rolls back and returns503. A fresh counts request observes zero orders and zero outbox rows. The valid POST then commits and returns201, after which both counts are one. Repeating the existing identity is an explicit conflict rather than a second order. These checks establish the tested local storage boundary and its rejection behavior. A nonempty outbox table still means pending intent; nothing in this endpoint establishes that a remote broker accepted a publication or that a consumer executed an effect.
Locate the precise pitfall
Publishing before commit creates a different failure window from publishing afterward, and neither order alone creates a distributed atomic transaction. A worker can fail after a broker accepted an event but before its local sent marker is stored. Treating an outbox insert or an HTTP201 as proof of delivery would therefore overstate the result. Likewise, catching a database exception and continuing with an independently published event can break the intended invariant. The controlled503 in this lesson is deliberately before commit; a post-commit lost response is a distinct scenario explored later rather than silently described as the same rollback. The outbox payload here is only a short quantity description, and event creation performs no network call, so a sent-message claim would lack any supporting observation.
Practice: change one independent condition
In an owned copy, inject the controlled failure after the order insert but before the outbox insert, preserving one enclosing transaction. Predict persisted counts before running and read them through a fresh connection afterward. Then keep the original failure after both inserts as a separate control. The hint is to check the storage invariant after unwinding, not just the returned status. Both positions should leave the atomic unit absent when rolled back, while a successful committed operation should still create exactly the paired local rows under its unique identity.
Practice: test a separate failure boundary
Create an intentionally separate-transaction variant only in a disposable fixture and force failure between the two commits. Predict which orphaned state can appear, observe it and discard that owned fixture afterward. This is a failure-demonstration experiment, not a proposed production implementation. Keep a second valid one-transaction fixture as the acceptance target. The distinction helps explain why an application event raised in memory or a second successful SQL command is not sufficient evidence that business state and publication intent share one durable commit boundary.
Design the ownership and evidence
Design the invariant around the rows that must be atomically present, then assign delivery to a separately owned bounded dispatcher. Give the event a stable identity and payload contract so replay can be recognized downstream. Preserve actual pre-commit rollback and valid-commit checks through refactors, and add separate uncertain-response and duplicate-delivery scenarios when those features arrive. The companion's bundle explains correlation, the SQLite transaction proves local persistence and a later consumer test would prove another boundary. Keeping these results separate prevents a useful outbox design from becoming an unsupported exactly-once claim about an entire distributed workflow.
Fault-tested atomic outbox persistence — complete production-contract lab
Set up the SDK project
- Save every file in one new owned folder, preserving Server/ paths and global.json. Install official .NET10 SDK10.0.403.
- Restore explicitly: dotnet restore Server/ProductionLab.csproj --source https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json
- Start only your loopback fixture: ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT=Development dotnet run --project Server/ProductionLab.csproj --no-launch-profile --urls http://127.0.0.1:5080 --Production:DatabasePath=./owned-production.db
- Use a fresh owned database for independent scenarios; the server creates only the classroom schema and seed data. Stop your own server with Ctrl+C and clean up only its fixture files.
- No external broker, shared network cache, production identity provider or public service is provisioned. Antiforgery uses an ephemeral development key provider, so a restart invalidates old token/cookie pairs.
- On a fresh fixture POST /outbox/orders?failBeforeCommit=true with {"orderId":"demo","quantity":2}; GET /messaging/counts. Then post the valid body without the fault and inspect counts again.
Download complete SDK project ↗
Project files
Server/ProductionLab.csproj
Download file ↗<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk.Web"><PropertyGroup><TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework><Nullable>enable</Nullable><ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings></PropertyGroup><ItemGroup><PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Data.Sqlite" Version="10.0.14"/><PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Hybrid" Version="10.11.0"/></ItemGroup></Project>
Server/CacheLabs.cs
Download file ↗using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Hybrid;
public sealed record CatalogView(string Name,long Version);
public sealed record CatalogInput(string Name);
public sealed record SharedView(string Value,int Generation);
public sealed class CacheProbe {
private int reads,factories; private readonly object sync=new(); private TaskCompletionSource<bool> gate=Ready();
private static TaskCompletionSource<bool> Ready() { var value=new TaskCompletionSource<bool>(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously); value.SetResult(true); return value; }
public int Reads=>Volatile.Read(ref reads); public int Factories=>Volatile.Read(ref factories);
public void Read()=>Interlocked.Increment(ref reads);
public void Close() { lock(sync) if(gate.Task.IsCompleted) gate=new(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously); }
public void Open() { lock(sync) gate.TrySetResult(true); }
public async ValueTask<SharedView> Create(CancellationToken token) { int generation=Interlocked.Increment(ref factories); Task wait; lock(sync) wait=gate.Task; await wait.WaitAsync(token); return new("shared",generation); }
}
public static class CacheLabs {
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapGet("/cache/catalog",async (Store store,HybridCache cache,CacheProbe probe,CancellationToken token)=> {
var value=await cache.GetOrCreateAsync("catalog:1",ct=> {
ct.ThrowIfCancellationRequested(); probe.Read(); using var c=store.Open(); using var query=Store.Command(c,"SELECT name,version FROM catalog_cache WHERE id=1"); using var row=query.ExecuteReader(); row.Read(); return ValueTask.FromResult(new CatalogView(row.GetString(0),row.GetInt64(1)));
},cancellationToken:token); return Results.Ok(value);
});
app.MapPost("/cache/catalog",async (CatalogInput input,bool? failBeforeCommit,Store store,HybridCache cache,CancellationToken token)=> {
if(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input.Name)||input.Name.Length>30) return Results.BadRequest();
using(var c=store.Open()) using(var tx=c.BeginTransaction()) {
Store.Execute(c,"UPDATE catalog_cache SET name=$name,version=version+1 WHERE id=1",tx,("$name",input.Name));
if(failBeforeCommit==true) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Controlled cache-write rollback"); }
tx.Commit();
}
await cache.RemoveAsync("catalog:1",token); return Results.NoContent();
});
app.MapGet("/cache/shared",async (HybridCache cache,CacheProbe probe,CancellationToken token)=>Results.Ok(await cache.GetOrCreateAsync("stampede:demo",ct=>probe.Create(ct),cancellationToken:token)));
app.MapGet("/cache/stats",(CacheProbe probe)=>new { reads=probe.Reads,factories=probe.Factories });
app.MapPost("/lab/cache/gate/{action}",(string action,CacheProbe probe)=> { if(action=="close") probe.Close(); else if(action=="open") probe.Open(); else return Results.BadRequest(); return Results.NoContent(); });
app.MapPost("/lab/cache/reset",async(HybridCache cache,CancellationToken token)=> { await cache.RemoveAsync("stampede:demo",token); return Results.NoContent(); });
}
}
Server/ContractLabs.cs
Download file ↗using System.Text.Json;
public static class ContractLabs {
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapGet("/contracts/compatible",()=>Results.Ok(new { id=1,name="rune",optional="new" }));
app.MapGet("/contracts/breaking",()=>Results.Ok(new { id=1,name=42 }));
app.MapGet("/contracts/effect",(Store store)=> { using var c=store.Open(); return new { value=Store.Number(c,"SELECT value FROM contract_effect WHERE id=1") }; });
app.MapPost("/contracts/change/{phase}",(string phase,Store store)=> {
if(phase!="before"&&phase!="after")return Results.BadRequest();
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction(); Store.Execute(c,"UPDATE contract_effect SET value=value+1 WHERE id=1",tx);
if(phase=="before") { tx.Rollback(); return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Controlled failure before commit"); }
tx.Commit(); return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Controlled uncertain response after commit");
});
}
public static bool Accept(JsonElement root) => root.ValueKind==JsonValueKind.Object && root.TryGetProperty("id",out var id)&&id.ValueKind==JsonValueKind.Number&&id.TryGetInt32(out int value)&&value>0&&root.TryGetProperty("name",out var name)&&name.ValueKind==JsonValueKind.String&&!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(name.GetString());
public static async Task VerifyAsync(string address) {
var uri=new Uri(address); if(!uri.IsLoopback||uri.Scheme!="http"||uri.AbsolutePath!="/"||!string.IsNullOrEmpty(uri.UserInfo))throw new ArgumentException("Owned loopback root required");
using var client=new HttpClient { BaseAddress=uri,Timeout=TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5) }; int checks=0;
foreach(var item in new[] { ("contracts/compatible",true),("contracts/breaking",false) }) {
using var response=await client.GetAsync(item.Item1); response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode(); using var document=JsonDocument.Parse(await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync());
if(Accept(document.RootElement)!=item.Item2)throw new Exception("Consumer contract expectation failed"); checks++;
}
async Task<long> State() { using var response=await client.GetAsync("contracts/effect"); response.EnsureSuccessStatusCode(); using var document=JsonDocument.Parse(await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync()); return document.RootElement.GetProperty("value").GetInt64(); }
if(await State()!=0)throw new Exception("Use a fresh fixture"); checks++;
using(var response=await client.PostAsync("contracts/change/before",null)) { if((int)response.StatusCode!=503)throw new Exception("Expected failure"); checks++; }
if(await State()!=0)throw new Exception("Rollback failed"); checks++;
using(var response=await client.PostAsync("contracts/change/after",null)) { if((int)response.StatusCode!=503)throw new Exception("Expected uncertain response"); checks++; }
if(await State()!=1)throw new Exception("Commit state missing"); checks++;
Console.WriteLine(JsonSerializer.Serialize(new { checks,transport="real owned loopback HTTP" }));
}
}
Server/HttpLabs.cs
Download file ↗using Microsoft.Net.Http.Headers;
public sealed record DocumentInput(string Body);
public sealed record DocumentView(int Id,string Body,long Version);
public sealed class ConditionalWriteProbe {
private readonly object sync=new(); private TaskCompletionSource<bool>? release; private int entered;
public bool Entered=>Volatile.Read(ref entered)==1;
public void Arm() { lock(sync) { release=new(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously); Volatile.Write(ref entered,0); } }
public void Release() { lock(sync) release?.TrySetResult(true); }
public Task PauseAsync(CancellationToken token) { lock(sync) { if(release is null)return Task.CompletedTask; Volatile.Write(ref entered,1); return release.Task.WaitAsync(token); } }
}
public static class HttpLabs {
public static DocumentView Read(Store store) { using var c=store.Open(); using var command=Store.Command(c,"SELECT body,version FROM documents WHERE id=1"); using var row=command.ExecuteReader(); row.Read(); return new(1,row.GetString(0),row.GetInt64(1)); }
public static EntityTagHeaderValue Tag(long version) => new("\"v"+version+"\"");
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapGet("/documents/1",(HttpContext context,Store store)=> {
var value=Read(store); var tag=Tag(value.Version); context.Response.GetTypedHeaders().ETag=tag;
try { var candidates=context.Request.GetTypedHeaders().IfNoneMatch; if(candidates?.Any(candidate=>candidate.Tag.Value=="*" || candidate.Compare(tag,useStrongComparison:false))==true) return Results.StatusCode(304); }
catch(FormatException) { return Results.BadRequest(new { error="Malformed conditional header" }); }
return Results.Ok(value);
});
app.MapPut("/documents/1",async (HttpContext context,DocumentInput input,Store store,ConditionalWriteProbe probe)=> {
if(string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input.Body)||input.Body.Length>50) return Results.BadRequest();
IList<EntityTagHeaderValue>? candidates;
try { candidates=context.Request.GetTypedHeaders().IfMatch; } catch(FormatException) { return Results.BadRequest(); }
if(candidates is null||candidates.Count==0) return Results.Problem(statusCode:428,title:"If-Match is required");
if(context.Request.Headers["X-Lab-Pause"]=="true")await probe.PauseAsync(context.RequestAborted);
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction();
long current=Store.Number(c,"SELECT version FROM documents WHERE id=1",tx);
bool any=candidates.Any(x=>x.Tag.Value=="*");
if(!any&&!candidates.Any(x=>x.Compare(Tag(current),useStrongComparison:true))) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.StatusCode(412); }
using var update=Store.Command(c,"UPDATE documents SET body=$body,version=version+1 WHERE id=1 AND version=$version RETURNING version",tx,("$body",input.Body),("$version",current));
object? changed=update.ExecuteScalar(); if(changed is null) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.StatusCode(412); }
long version=Convert.ToInt64(changed,System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture); tx.Commit(); context.Response.GetTypedHeaders().ETag=Tag(version); return Results.Ok(new DocumentView(1,input.Body,version));
});
app.MapPost("/lab/condition/arm",(ConditionalWriteProbe probe)=> { probe.Arm(); return Results.NoContent(); });
app.MapPost("/lab/condition/release",(ConditionalWriteProbe probe)=> { probe.Release(); return Results.NoContent(); });
app.MapGet("/lab/condition/evidence",(ConditionalWriteProbe probe)=>new { entered=probe.Entered });
app.MapGet("/api/v1/item",()=>Results.Ok(new { id=1,name="rune" }));
app.MapGet("/api/v1/item-extra",()=>Results.Ok(new { id=1,name="rune",state="active" }));
app.MapGet("/api/v2/item",()=>Results.Ok(new { id=1,displayName="rune",state="active" }));
app.MapGet("/stream",async (HttpContext context,int? abortAfter,bool? fail)=> {
if(abortAfter is not null&&abortAfter!=1) { context.Response.StatusCode=400; return; }
context.Response.ContentType="application/x-ndjson";
for(int id=1;id<=2;id++) {
await context.Response.WriteAsync(System.Text.Json.JsonSerializer.Serialize(new { type="item",id })+"\n",context.RequestAborted); await context.Response.Body.FlushAsync(context.RequestAborted);
if(abortAfter==id) { context.Abort(); return; }
if(fail==true&&id==1) { await context.Response.WriteAsync("{\"type\":\"error\",\"code\":\"controlled-failure\"}\n",context.RequestAborted); return; }
}
await context.Response.WriteAsync("{\"type\":\"complete\",\"count\":2}\n",context.RequestAborted);
});
}
}
Server/MessagingLabs.cs
Download file ↗using System.Text.Json;
using Microsoft.Data.Sqlite;
public sealed record CreateOrder(string OrderId,int Quantity);
public sealed record InboxInput(string MessageId,string Payload,int Amount);
public sealed record OrderedInput(string MessageId,string AggregateId,int Sequence,int Amount);
public static class MessagingLabs {
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapGet("/messaging/counts",(Store store)=>store.Counts());
app.MapPost("/outbox/orders", (CreateOrder input, bool? failBeforeCommit, Store store) => {
if(input.OrderId!="demo" || input.Quantity is <1 or >10) return Results.BadRequest();
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction();
try {
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO orders(order_id,quantity) VALUES($id,$quantity)",tx,("$id",input.OrderId),("$quantity",input.Quantity));
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO outbox(event_key,aggregate_id,sequence,payload) VALUES($key,$id,1,$payload)",tx,("$key","order-demo-v1"),("$id",input.OrderId),("$payload","quantity:"+input.Quantity));
} catch(SqliteException ex) when(ex.SqliteErrorCode==19) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.Conflict(new { error="Order or event identity already exists" }); }
if(failBeforeCommit==true) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Controlled pre-commit failure"); }
tx.Commit(); return Results.Created("/outbox/orders/demo",new { input.OrderId,input.Quantity });
});
app.MapPost("/outbox/claim/{owner}",(string owner,Store store)=> {
if(owner!="one"&&owner!="two") return Results.BadRequest(); long now=DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.ToUnixTimeMilliseconds();
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction();
using var command=Store.Command(c,"UPDATE outbox SET owner=$owner,lease_until=$until,attempts=attempts+1 WHERE id=(SELECT id FROM outbox WHERE status='pending' AND (lease_until IS NULL OR lease_until<=$now) ORDER BY id LIMIT 1) RETURNING id,payload,attempts",tx,("$owner",owner),("$until",now+500),("$now",now));
object? row=null; using(var read=command.ExecuteReader()) if(read.Read()) row=new { id=read.GetInt64(0),payload=read.GetString(1),attempts=read.GetInt32(2),owner };
tx.Commit(); return row is null ? Results.NoContent() : Results.Ok(row);
});
app.MapPost("/outbox/ack/{id:long}/{owner}",(long id,string owner,int generation,Store store)=> {
using var c=store.Open(); int changed=Store.Execute(c,"UPDATE outbox SET status='sent' WHERE id=$id AND owner=$owner AND status='pending' AND lease_until>$now AND attempts=$generation",null,("$id",id),("$owner",owner),("$now",DateTimeOffset.UtcNow.ToUnixTimeMilliseconds()),("$generation",generation)); return changed==1 ? Results.NoContent() : Results.Conflict(new { error="Lease is not currently owned" });
});
app.MapPost("/inbox/apply",(InboxInput input,bool? failBeforeCommit,Store store)=> {
if(input.MessageId!="demo" || (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input.Payload)||input.Payload.Length>50) || input.Amount is <1 or >10) return Results.BadRequest();
string canonical=JsonSerializer.Serialize(new { input.Payload,input.Amount });
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction(); using var check=Store.Command(c,"SELECT payload FROM inbox WHERE message_id=$id",tx,("$id",input.MessageId)); string? prior=check.ExecuteScalar() as string;
if(prior is not null) { tx.Rollback(); return prior==canonical ? Results.Ok(new { replay=true }) : Results.Conflict(new { error="Payload conflict" }); }
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO inbox(message_id,payload) VALUES($id,$payload)",tx,("$id",input.MessageId),("$payload",canonical)); Store.Execute(c,"UPDATE effects SET total=total+$amount WHERE id=1",tx,("$amount",input.Amount));
if(failBeforeCommit==true) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Controlled inbox failure"); } tx.Commit(); return Results.Ok(new { replay=false });
});
app.MapPost("/ordered/apply",(OrderedInput input,Store store)=> {
if((string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(input.MessageId)||input.MessageId.Length>20) || input.AggregateId!="demo" || input.Sequence is <1 or >10) return Results.BadRequest();
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction();
string canonical=JsonSerializer.Serialize(new { input.AggregateId,input.Sequence,input.Amount });
using var priorCommand=Store.Command(c,"SELECT payload FROM ordered_inbox WHERE message_id=$id",tx,("$id",input.MessageId)); string? prior=priorCommand.ExecuteScalar() as string;
if(prior is not null) { tx.Rollback(); return prior==canonical ? Results.Ok(new { outcome="replay" }) : Results.Conflict(new { outcome="payload conflict" }); }
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT OR IGNORE INTO aggregate_state VALUES($id,0,0)",tx,("$id",input.AggregateId)); long last=Store.Number(c,"SELECT last_sequence FROM aggregate_state WHERE aggregate_id=$id",tx,("$id",input.AggregateId));
if(input.Sequence!=last+1) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.Conflict(new { outcome=input.Sequence>last+1 ? "gap" : "stale",expected=last+1 }); }
if(input.Amount<0) { Store.Execute(c,"INSERT OR IGNORE INTO deadletters VALUES($id,'negative amount')",tx,("$id",input.MessageId)); tx.Commit(); return Results.UnprocessableEntity(new { outcome="quarantined",expected=last+1 }); }
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO ordered_inbox VALUES($id,$payload)",tx,("$id",input.MessageId),("$payload",canonical)); Store.Execute(c,"UPDATE aggregate_state SET last_sequence=$sequence,total=total+$amount WHERE aggregate_id=$id",tx,("$sequence",input.Sequence),("$amount",input.Amount),("$id",input.AggregateId)); tx.Commit(); return Results.Ok(new { outcome="applied",sequence=input.Sequence });
});
app.MapGet("/ordered/state",(Store store)=> { using var c=store.Open(); return new { applied=Store.Number(c,"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM ordered_inbox"),deadletters=Store.Number(c,"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM deadletters"),last=Store.Number(c,"SELECT COALESCE(MAX(last_sequence),0) FROM aggregate_state") }; });
}
}
Server/PipelineLabs.cs
Download file ↗using Microsoft.Net.Http.Headers;
using System.Text.Json;
public sealed record PipelineInput(int Quantity);
public static class PipelineLabs {
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapPost("/pipeline",(HttpContext context,PipelineInput input,bool? failAfterCommit,Store store)=> {
if(input.Quantity is <1 or >10)return Results.BadRequest();
string requestId=context.Request.Headers["Idempotency-Key"].ToString(); if(requestId is not "demo" and not "second")return Results.BadRequest();
IList<EntityTagHeaderValue>? candidates;
try { candidates=context.Request.GetTypedHeaders().IfMatch; } catch(FormatException) { return Results.BadRequest(); }
if(candidates is null||candidates.Count==0)return Results.StatusCode(428);
string originalCondition=string.Join(",",candidates.Select(x=>x.ToString()));
string payload=JsonSerializer.Serialize(new { input.Quantity,condition=originalCondition });
using var c=store.Open(); using var tx=c.BeginTransaction();
using(var query=Store.Command(c,"SELECT payload,result_version FROM pipeline_requests WHERE request_id=$id",tx,("$id",requestId))) using(var read=query.ExecuteReader()) {
if(read.Read()) {
string prior=read.GetString(0); long version=read.GetInt64(1); read.Close();
long currentVersion=Store.Number(c,"SELECT version FROM documents WHERE id=1",tx); tx.Rollback();
return prior==payload&¤tVersion==version ? Results.Ok(new { version,replay=true }) : Results.Conflict(new { error="Request changed or the saved receipt is no longer current" });
}
}
long current=Store.Number(c,"SELECT version FROM documents WHERE id=1",tx);
if(!candidates.Any(x=>x.Tag.Value=="*"||x.Compare(HttpLabs.Tag(current),useStrongComparison:true))) { tx.Rollback(); return Results.StatusCode(412); }
long next=current+1; Store.Execute(c,"UPDATE documents SET body=$body,version=$next WHERE id=1 AND version=$current",tx,("$body","quantity:"+input.Quantity),("$next",next),("$current",current));
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO pipeline_requests VALUES($id,$payload,$version)",tx,("$id",requestId),("$payload",payload),("$version",next));
Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO outbox(event_key,aggregate_id,sequence,payload) VALUES($key,'document-1',$sequence,$payload)",tx,("$key","document-1-v"+next),("$sequence",next),("$payload",payload)); tx.Commit();
if(failAfterCommit==true)return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Controlled lost-success response after commit");
context.Response.Headers.ETag="\"v"+next+"\""; return Results.Ok(new { version=next,replay=false });
});
app.MapGet("/pipeline/state",(Store store)=> { using var c=store.Open(); return new { version=Store.Number(c,"SELECT version FROM documents WHERE id=1"),requests=Store.Number(c,"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM pipeline_requests"),events=Store.Number(c,"SELECT COUNT(*) FROM outbox") }; });
}
}
Server/PrivacyLogs.cs
Download file ↗using System.Diagnostics.Metrics;
public sealed class EvidenceLog : ILoggerProvider {
private readonly object sync=new(); private readonly Queue<string> messages=new();
public string[] Snapshot() { lock(sync) return messages.ToArray(); }
public ILogger CreateLogger(string categoryName)=>new Writer(this,categoryName);
public void Dispose() { }
private void Add(string category,string text) { if(category=="ProductionPrivacy") lock(sync) { if(messages.Count==32) messages.Dequeue(); messages.Enqueue(text); } Console.WriteLine(text); }
private sealed class Writer(EvidenceLog owner,string category):ILogger {
public IDisposable? BeginScope<TState>(TState state) where TState:notnull=>null;
public bool IsEnabled(LogLevel level)=>category=="Microsoft.Hosting.Lifetime"||category=="ProductionPrivacy";
public void Log<TState>(LogLevel level,EventId id,TState state,Exception? exception,Func<TState,Exception?,string> formatter) { if(IsEnabled(level)) owner.Add(category,formatter(state,exception)); }
}
}
public sealed class PrivacySignals : IDisposable {
private readonly Meter meter=new("SharpRune.ProductionPrivacy"); private readonly MeterListener listener=new(); private readonly Counter<long> counter;
private readonly object sync=new(); private readonly HashSet<string> labels=new(StringComparer.Ordinal); private int disposed;
public PrivacySignals() {
counter=meter.CreateCounter<long>("production.operations");
listener.InstrumentPublished=(instrument,value)=> { if(instrument.Meter.Name=="SharpRune.ProductionPrivacy") value.EnableMeasurementEvents(instrument); };
listener.SetMeasurementEventCallback<long>((instrument,value,tags,state)=> { foreach(var tag in tags) if(tag.Key=="operation"&&tag.Value is string label) lock(sync) labels.Add(label); }); listener.Start();
}
public string Record(string raw) { string operation=raw is "quote" or "search" ? raw : "other"; counter.Add(1,new KeyValuePair<string,object?>("operation",operation)); return operation; }
public string[] Labels() { lock(sync) return labels.OrderBy(x=>x,StringComparer.Ordinal).ToArray(); }
public void Dispose() { if(Interlocked.Exchange(ref disposed,1)!=0)return; listener.Dispose(); meter.Dispose(); }
}
Server/Program.cs
Download file ↗using System.Net;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.DataProtection;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.HttpOverrides;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Caching.Hybrid;
if(args.Length==2&&args[0]=="--verify-base") { await ContractLabs.VerifyAsync(args[1]); return; }
var builder=WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);
if(!builder.Environment.IsDevelopment())throw new InvalidOperationException("This fixture exposes controlled faults and is Development-only");
var evidence=new EvidenceLog(); builder.Logging.ClearProviders(); builder.Logging.AddProvider(evidence);
builder.Configuration.AddJsonFile("runtime-settings.json",optional:false,reloadOnChange:true);
builder.Services.AddOptions<LiveSettings>().Bind(builder.Configuration.GetSection("Live")).Validate(x=>!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(x.Label)&&x.Maximum is >=1 and <=10,"Invalid live settings").ValidateOnStart();
builder.Services.AddSingleton<ConditionalWriteProbe>(); builder.Services.AddSingleton<Store>(); builder.Services.AddSingleton<CacheProbe>(); builder.Services.AddSingleton<PrivacySignals>();
builder.Services.AddHybridCache(options=>options.DefaultEntryOptions=new HybridCacheEntryOptions { Expiration=TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1),LocalCacheExpiration=TimeSpan.FromMinutes(1) });
builder.Services.AddDataProtection().UseEphemeralDataProtectionProvider();
builder.Services.AddAntiforgery(options=> { options.HeaderName="X-CSRF-TOKEN"; options.Cookie.Name="ProductionLab.Csrf"; options.Cookie.SecurePolicy=CookieSecurePolicy.None; });
builder.Services.AddCors(options=>options.AddPolicy("classroom",policy=>policy.WithOrigins("https://client.example").WithMethods("GET","POST").WithHeaders("Content-Type")));
builder.Services.Configure<ForwardedHeadersOptions>(options=> {
options.ForwardedHeaders=ForwardedHeaders.XForwardedFor|ForwardedHeaders.XForwardedProto; options.ForwardLimit=1;
options.KnownProxies.Clear(); options.KnownIPNetworks.Clear(); options.KnownProxies.Add(IPAddress.Parse(builder.Configuration["Production:Proxy"]??"203.0.113.10"));
});
builder.Services.AddHostFiltering(options=>options.AllowedHosts=(builder.Configuration["AllowedHosts"]??"*").Split(';'));
builder.Services.AddSingleton<WorkQueue>(); builder.Services.AddSingleton<ScopeEvidence>(); builder.Services.AddScoped<ScopedOperation>(); builder.Services.AddHostedService<ScopedWorker>();
var app=builder.Build(); app.Services.GetRequiredService<Store>().Initialize();
app.UseHostFiltering(); app.UseForwardedHeaders(); app.UseCors("classroom"); app.UseAntiforgery();
SqlLabs.Map(app); MessagingLabs.Map(app); HttpLabs.Map(app); CacheLabs.Map(app); SecurityLabs.Map(app,evidence); WorkerLabs.Map(app); ContractLabs.Map(app); PipelineLabs.Map(app);
app.MapGet("/live",()=>Results.Text("live")); app.Run();
Server/SecurityLabs.cs
Download file ↗using System.Text.Encodings.Web;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Antiforgery;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
public sealed class LiveSettings { public string Label { get; set; }="initial"; public int Maximum { get; set; }=3; public string Secret { get; set; }=""; }
public static class SecurityLabs {
private static int submissions;
public static void Map(WebApplication app,EvidenceLog evidence) {
app.MapGet("/configuration",(IOptionsMonitor<LiveSettings> monitor)=> {
try { var value=monitor.CurrentValue; return Results.Ok(new { value.Label,value.Maximum,hasSecret=!string.IsNullOrEmpty(value.Secret) }); }
catch(OptionsValidationException) { return Results.Problem(statusCode:503,title:"Current configuration is invalid"); }
});
app.MapGet("/cors/data",(HttpContext context)=>Results.Ok(new { value="public classroom data",authenticated=context.User.Identity?.IsAuthenticated??false }));
app.MapGet("/antiforgery/token",(HttpContext context,IAntiforgery anti)=> { var tokens=anti.GetAndStoreTokens(context); return Results.Ok(new { requestToken=tokens.RequestToken }); });
app.MapPost("/antiforgery/submit",async(HttpContext context,IAntiforgery anti)=> {
try { await anti.ValidateRequestAsync(context); }
catch(AntiforgeryValidationException) { return Results.BadRequest(new { error="Antiforgery validation failed" }); }
return Results.Ok(new { accepted=Interlocked.Increment(ref submissions) });
});
app.MapGet("/antiforgery/count",()=>new { count=Volatile.Read(ref submissions) });
app.MapGet("/encoded",(string? name)=>Results.Content("<!doctype html><html><body><p>"+HtmlEncoder.Default.Encode(name??"")+"</p></body></html>","text/html; charset=utf-8"));
app.MapGet("/proxy",(HttpContext context)=>new { scheme=context.Request.Scheme,remote=context.Connection.RemoteIpAddress?.ToString(),host=context.Request.Host.Value });
app.MapGet("/canonical",(HttpContext context)=>new { observedHost=context.Request.Host.Value,url=new Uri(new Uri("https://public.example.test/"),"items/7").AbsoluteUri });
app.MapGet("/privacy/observe",(string? email,string? operation,PrivacySignals signals,ILoggerFactory logs)=> {
string safe=signals.Record(operation??""); string identity=string.IsNullOrEmpty(email)?"anonymous":"redacted";
logs.CreateLogger("ProductionPrivacy").LogInformation("Handled {Operation} for {Identity}",safe,identity); return Results.Ok(new { operation=safe,identity });
});
app.MapGet("/privacy/evidence",(PrivacySignals signals)=>new { messages=evidence.Snapshot(),metricLabels=signals.Labels() });
}
}
Server/SqlLabs.cs
Download file ↗using Microsoft.Data.Sqlite;
public static class SqlLabs {
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapGet("/sql/nulls", (Store store) => { using var c = store.Open(); return new { equalsNull = Store.Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sql_values WHERE amount = NULL"), isNull = Store.Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sql_values WHERE amount IS NULL"), all = Store.Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM sql_values"), known = Store.Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(amount) FROM sql_values"), sum = Store.Number(c, "SELECT SUM(amount) FROM sql_values") }; });
app.MapPost("/lab/sql/null-check", (Store store) => {
using var c = store.Open(); using var tx = c.BeginTransaction(); Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO sql_values(id,amount) VALUES(6,NULL)",tx);
bool rejected = false; try { Store.Execute(c,"INSERT INTO sql_required(amount) VALUES(NULL)",tx); } catch(SqliteException ex) when(ex.SqliteErrorCode==19) { rejected=true; }
tx.Rollback(); return new { checkAllowedNull = true, notNullRejected = rejected };
});
app.MapGet("/sql/plans", (Store store) => {
using var c = store.Open();
var rows = new List<int>(); using(var command=Store.Command(c,"SELECT id,price FROM products WHERE category=$category ORDER BY price,id",null,("$category","books"))) using(var read=command.ExecuteReader()) while(read.Read()) rows.Add(read.GetInt32(0));
return new { ids=rows, composite=Plan(c,"SELECT id,price FROM products WHERE category='books' ORDER BY price,id"), expression=Plan(c,"SELECT id FROM products WHERE lower(name)='rune'"), collated=Plan(c,"SELECT id FROM products WHERE name='rune' COLLATE NOCASE"), partial=Plan(c,"SELECT id,price FROM products WHERE active=1 ORDER BY price") };
});
app.MapPost("/lab/sql/snapshot", (Store store) => {
using var first=store.Open(); Store.Execute(first,"UPDATE counters SET value=10 WHERE id=1"); using var reader=first.BeginTransaction(deferred:true);
long before=Store.Number(first,"SELECT value FROM counters WHERE id=1",reader);
using(var second=store.Open()) Store.Execute(second,"UPDATE counters SET value=20 WHERE id=1");
long during=Store.Number(first,"SELECT value FROM counters WHERE id=1",reader); reader.Commit();
using var fresh=store.Open(); return new { before,during,after=Store.Number(fresh,"SELECT value FROM counters WHERE id=1") };
});
app.MapPost("/lab/sql/retry", (Store store) => {
using var first=store.Open(); Store.Execute(first,"UPDATE counters SET value=10 WHERE id=1"); using var stale=first.BeginTransaction(deferred:true);
long seen=Store.Number(first,"SELECT value FROM counters WHERE id=1",stale);
using(var second=store.Open()) Store.Execute(second,"UPDATE counters SET value=20 WHERE id=1");
int error=0,extended=0; try { Store.Execute(first,"UPDATE counters SET value=$value WHERE id=1",stale,("$value",seen+1)); } catch(SqliteException ex) when(ex.SqliteErrorCode==5 || ex.SqliteErrorCode==6) { error=ex.SqliteErrorCode; extended=ex.SqliteExtendedErrorCode; }
stale.Rollback(); if(error==0) return Results.Problem(statusCode:500,title:"Fixture did not encounter the expected stale-writer boundary");
using var fresh=store.Open(); using var tx=fresh.BeginTransaction(); long current=Store.Number(fresh,"SELECT value FROM counters WHERE id=1",tx); Store.Execute(fresh,"UPDATE counters SET value=$value WHERE id=1",tx,("$value",current+1)); tx.Commit();
return Results.Ok(new { attempts=2,error,extended,value=current+1 });
});
}
private static List<string> Plan(SqliteConnection c,string sql) { var rows=new List<string>(); using var command=Store.Command(c,"EXPLAIN QUERY PLAN "+sql); using var read=command.ExecuteReader(); while(read.Read()) rows.Add(read.GetString(3)); return rows; }
}
Server/Store.cs
Download file ↗using Microsoft.Data.Sqlite;
public sealed class Store {
private readonly string connectionString;
public Store(IConfiguration configuration) {
string path = configuration["Production:DatabasePath"] ?? Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), "sharprune-production-" + Guid.NewGuid().ToString("N") + ".db");
connectionString = new SqliteConnectionStringBuilder { DataSource = path, DefaultTimeout = 1, Pooling = false, ForeignKeys = true }.ToString();
}
public SqliteConnection Open() { var connection = new SqliteConnection(connectionString); connection.Open(); return connection; }
public static SqliteCommand Command(SqliteConnection c, string sql, SqliteTransaction? tx = null, params (string Key, object? Value)[] values) {
var command = c.CreateCommand(); command.CommandText = sql; command.Transaction = tx;
foreach (var value in values) command.Parameters.AddWithValue(value.Key, value.Value ?? DBNull.Value);
return command;
}
public static int Execute(SqliteConnection c, string sql, SqliteTransaction? tx = null, params (string Key, object? Value)[] values) { using var command = Command(c, sql, tx, values); return command.ExecuteNonQuery(); }
public static long Number(SqliteConnection c, string sql, SqliteTransaction? tx = null, params (string Key, object? Value)[] values) { using var command = Command(c, sql, tx, values); return Convert.ToInt64(command.ExecuteScalar(), System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture); }
public void Initialize() {
using var c = Open(); Execute(c, "PRAGMA journal_mode=WAL");
Execute(c, """
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sql_values(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, amount INTEGER CHECK(amount > 0));
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sql_required(amount INTEGER NOT NULL CHECK(amount > 0));
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO sql_values VALUES(1,NULL),(2,NULL),(3,1),(4,2),(5,3);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS products(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,name TEXT NOT NULL,category TEXT NOT NULL,price INTEGER NOT NULL CHECK(price>=0),active INTEGER NOT NULL CHECK(active IN(0,1)));
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO products VALUES(1,'Rune','books',30,1),(2,'rune','books',10,1),(3,'Sword','books',20,0),(4,'Shield','gear',20,1),(5,'RUNE','gear',15,0);
CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS ix_products_category_price_id ON products(category,price,id);
CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS ix_products_active_price ON products(price) WHERE active=1;
CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS ix_products_lower_name ON products(lower(name));
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS counters(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,value INTEGER NOT NULL);
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO counters VALUES(1,10);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS orders(order_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,quantity INTEGER NOT NULL CHECK(quantity BETWEEN 1 AND 10));
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS outbox(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,event_key TEXT UNIQUE NOT NULL,aggregate_id TEXT NOT NULL,sequence INTEGER NOT NULL,payload TEXT NOT NULL,status TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'pending',owner TEXT,lease_until INTEGER,attempts INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 0);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS inbox(message_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,payload TEXT NOT NULL);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS effects(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,total INTEGER NOT NULL);
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO effects VALUES(1,0);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS aggregate_state(aggregate_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,last_sequence INTEGER NOT NULL,total INTEGER NOT NULL);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS ordered_inbox(message_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,payload TEXT NOT NULL);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS deadletters(message_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,reason TEXT NOT NULL);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS documents(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,body TEXT NOT NULL,version INTEGER NOT NULL);
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO documents VALUES(1,'rune',1);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS catalog_cache(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,name TEXT NOT NULL,version INTEGER NOT NULL);
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO catalog_cache VALUES(1,'rune',1);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS contract_effect(id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,value INTEGER NOT NULL);
INSERT OR IGNORE INTO contract_effect VALUES(1,0);
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS pipeline_requests(request_id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,payload TEXT NOT NULL,result_version INTEGER NOT NULL);
""");
}
public object Counts() { using var c = Open(); return new { orders = Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM orders"), outbox = Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM outbox"), inbox = Number(c, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM inbox"), effects = Number(c, "SELECT total FROM effects WHERE id=1") }; }
}
Server/WorkerLabs.cs
Download file ↗using System.Threading.Channels;
public sealed record WorkRequest(int Value);
public sealed record WorkReceipt(int Value,int ScopeId);
public sealed record WorkMessage(int Value,CancellationToken Token) { public TaskCompletionSource<WorkReceipt> Completion { get; }=new(TaskCreationOptions.RunContinuationsAsynchronously); }
public sealed class WorkQueue {
public Channel<WorkMessage> Items { get; }=Channel.CreateBounded<WorkMessage>(4);
}
public sealed class ScopeEvidence {
private int created,disposed,live;
public int Created=>Volatile.Read(ref created); public int Disposed=>Volatile.Read(ref disposed); public int Live=>Volatile.Read(ref live);
public int Start() { Interlocked.Increment(ref live); return Interlocked.Increment(ref created); }
public void End() { Interlocked.Decrement(ref live); Interlocked.Increment(ref disposed); }
}
public sealed class ScopedOperation : IAsyncDisposable {
private readonly ScopeEvidence evidence; private int disposed; public int Id { get; }
public ScopedOperation(ScopeEvidence evidence) { this.evidence=evidence; Id=evidence.Start(); }
public async Task<WorkReceipt> ProcessAsync(int value,CancellationToken token) { await Task.Delay(2,token); return new(value*2,Id); }
public ValueTask DisposeAsync() { if(Interlocked.Exchange(ref disposed,1)==0)evidence.End(); return ValueTask.CompletedTask; }
}
public sealed class ScopedWorker(WorkQueue queue,IServiceScopeFactory scopes) : BackgroundService {
protected override async Task ExecuteAsync(CancellationToken stoppingToken) {
await foreach(var item in queue.Items.Reader.ReadAllAsync(stoppingToken)) {
using var owner=CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(stoppingToken,item.Token);
try {
WorkReceipt result;
await using(var scope=scopes.CreateAsyncScope()) result=await scope.ServiceProvider.GetRequiredService<ScopedOperation>().ProcessAsync(item.Value,owner.Token);
item.Completion.TrySetResult(result);
} catch(OperationCanceledException) { item.Completion.TrySetCanceled(owner.Token); }
}
}
public override async Task StopAsync(CancellationToken token) {
queue.Items.Writer.TryComplete();
try { if(ExecuteTask is not null) await ExecuteTask.WaitAsync(token); }
finally { await base.StopAsync(token); }
}
}
public static class WorkerLabs {
public static void Map(WebApplication app) {
app.MapPost("/worker",async(WorkRequest input,WorkQueue queue,CancellationToken token)=> {
if(input.Value is <1 or >10)return Results.BadRequest(); var item=new WorkMessage(input.Value,token);
if(!queue.Items.Writer.TryWrite(item))return Results.StatusCode(429);
return Results.Ok(await item.Completion.Task.WaitAsync(token));
});
app.MapGet("/worker/evidence",(ScopeEvidence evidence)=>new { evidence.Created,evidence.Disposed,evidence.Live });
}
}
Server/appsettings.json
Download file ↗{
"AllowedHosts": "*",
"Production": {
"Proxy": "203.0.113.10"
}
}
Server/runtime-settings.json
Download file ↗{
"Live": {
"Label": "initial",
"Maximum": 3,
"Secret": "classroom-not-a-secret"
}
}
Expected result
Controlled failure is503 with orders0/outbox0; valid creation is201 with orders1/outbox1. No broker publication is claimed.
Use the listed SDK and dependencies for this project. Open C# practice runs the separate portable exercise.
C# companion practice
using System;
using System.Linq;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Text;
using System.Text.Json;
using System.Threading;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
Draft? Build(int quantity)=>quantity is >=1 and <=10 ? new Draft(quantity,"order:"+quantity) : null;
var draft=Build(2)!; Console.WriteLine("quantity:"+draft.Quantity); Console.WriteLine("event:"+draft.Event); Console.WriteLine("invalid rejected:"+(Build(0) is null));
record Draft(int Quantity,string Event);
C# practice output
quantity:2 event:order:2 invalid rejected:True
An immutable bundle explains correlation; only the external transaction proves both persisted writes commit or roll back together.
Further reading
Interview questions for this lesson
- Explain: What does the outbox transaction actually make atomic, and why does one committed outbox row not prove delivery or an exactly-once remote effect?
- Trace: Portable .NET9 console only: predict every printed line and explain how the accepted immutable bundle and rejected quantity produce the three output lines. State which real HTTP, SQL or infrastructure guarantee this program does not test.
- Design: Design persistence and dispatch boundaries for an order plus integration event, including failures between writes, after commit and after delivery.