Aglet

Investigate missing context in webhook dead letters

Investigation should show which context was lost and whether the event remains recoverable. Build failed, exhausted, redacted, replayable, and already-applied fixtures, then trace their records. Compare retained payload metadata with the attempt history to distinguish expired evidence, missing instrumentation, and an unsafe replay path.

Build a useful investigation brief

  1. Build dead-letter fixtures

    Create one transient failure, exhausted retry, missing-ID record, redacted payload, replayable event, and event with an existing effect. Record expected fields and disposition before execution. Use synthetic identifiers and bounded bodies.

  2. Trace record creation

    Capture delivery ID, event ID, response, attempt, receipt, failure detail, redaction, retention, and replay marker from failure to dead-letter. Compare a complete record with the gap. Identify the first omitted field or overwritten state.

  3. Challenge replay assumptions

    Vary identity availability, receipt state, retention age, redaction, and prior effect. Compare review, replay, and closure outcomes. If the sender history cannot be recovered, record that limitation and do not use a payload guess as identity.

What to carry forward

The investigation is ready when the first missing context and its recovery consequence are reproducible. Deliver a bounded record or review change. Leave replay safety unresolved when identity or prior effect cannot be proven. Keep the missing field explicit in the brief.

Technical background: Twilio documentation.

Keep the decision with the work.

Use a Work Item in Aglet to record the problem, the evidence you have, and the next decision. Add an owner and priority, then keep updates in the discussion so the next person can follow the reasoning.

Create an account See the product workflow