---
type: decision
project: fidelity
status: accepted
title: "Discourse Issues Handling"
updated: 2026-04-16
tags:
  - decision
  - fidelity
---
# Discourse Issues Handling

## Context

External reports from AO testing or Discourse may:

- already exist in main
- be partially reproducible
- depend on authentication
- reflect backend behavior rather than a new regression

---

## Decision

Treat incoming reports as external issues until scope is confirmed.

---

## Validation Rules

Always confirm:

- reproducibility
- environment
- auth state
- entry point
- whether the issue exists in main

---

## Communication Rule

Do not say a report is a regression until comparison has been validated.

Preferred framing:

"Investigating external report. Scope, auth state, and reproducibility still being confirmed."