---
phase: 6
slug: background-worker
status: draft
nyquist_compliant: true
wave_0_complete: true
created: 2026-05-15
---

# Phase 6 — Validation Strategy

> Per-phase validation contract for feedback sampling during execution.

---

## Test Infrastructure

| Property | Value |
|----------|-------|
| **Framework** | go test |
| **Config file** | backend/go.mod |
| **Quick run command** | `cd backend && go build ./cmd/worker/...` |
| **Full suite command** | `cd backend && go test ./... && go build ./...` |
| **Estimated runtime** | ~10 seconds |

---

## Sampling Rate

- **After every task commit:** Run `cd backend && go build ./cmd/worker/...`
- **After every plan wave:** Run `cd backend && go test ./... && go build ./...`
- **Before `/gsd-verify-work`:** Full suite must be green
- **Max feedback latency:** 15 seconds

---

## Per-Task Verification Map

| Task ID | Plan | Wave | Requirement | Threat Ref | Secure Behavior | Test Type | Automated Command | File Exists | Status |
|---------|------|------|-------------|------------|-----------------|-----------|-------------------|-------------|--------|
| 06-01-01 | 06-01 | 1 | WORK-01 | — | N/A | build | `cd backend && grep -c "riverqueue/river" go.mod && go build ./...` | ✅ | ⬜ pending |
| 06-01-02 | 06-01 | 1 | WORK-02 | — | N/A | unit | `cd backend && go build ./internal/jobs/... && go test ./internal/jobs/... -v -count=1` | ❌ W0 | ⬜ pending |
| 06-02-01 | 06-02 | 2 | WORK-01, WORK-02, WORK-03 | — | N/A | build | `cd backend && go build ./cmd/worker/...` | ✅ | ⬜ pending |
| 06-02-02 | 06-02 | 2 | WORK-01, WORK-04 | — | N/A | build | `cd backend && grep -c "^worker:" justfile && grep -c "just worker" README.md` | ✅ | ⬜ pending |
| 06-03-01 | 06-03 | 3 | WORK-02, WORK-03, WORK-04 | — | N/A | manual | Run `just worker`, observe 2+ heartbeat log lines ~60s apart, verify graceful shutdown | — | ⬜ pending |

*Status: ⬜ pending · ✅ green · ❌ red · ⚠️ flaky*

---

## Wave 0 Requirements

- [ ] `backend/internal/jobs/heartbeat_test.go` — unit tests for HeartbeatWorker (created inline in Plan 06-01 Task 2)
- [ ] `backend/internal/jobs/orphan_cleanup_test.go` — unit tests for OrphanCleanupWorker (created inline in Plan 06-01 Task 2)
- [ ] `backend/internal/jobs/error_handler_test.go` — unit tests for SlogErrorHandler (created inline in Plan 06-01 Task 2)

Wave 0 is satisfied by inline test creation in Plan 06-01 Task 2 — no separate Wave 0 stub phase required.

---

## Manual-Only Verifications

| Behavior | Requirement | Why Manual | Test Instructions |
|----------|-------------|------------|-------------------|
| Heartbeat logs "worker heartbeat" every ~1 min | WORK-02 | Requires running binary with real Postgres | `just worker`, observe logs for 2+ min, confirm ≥2 heartbeat entries ~60s apart |
| Orphan cleanup runs on schedule and logs results | WORK-02 | Requires real DB + S3 state | Insert orphan row, start worker, wait for cleanup run, verify log output |
| Failed job retried with backoff visible in logs | WORK-03 | Requires real river runtime | Register a job that fails, observe retry log entries with attempt/max_attempts fields |
| Graceful shutdown completes cleanly | WORK-01 | Requires running process | Ctrl+C on running worker, verify "worker stopped" log and clean exit code |

---

## Validation Sign-Off

- [x] All tasks have `<automated>` verify or Wave 0 dependencies
- [x] Sampling continuity: no 3 consecutive tasks without automated verify (Wave 1: 2 auto, Wave 2: 2 auto, Wave 3: manual checkpoint)
- [x] Wave 0 covered by inline test creation in Plan 06-01 Task 2
- [x] No watch-mode flags
- [x] Feedback latency < 15s
- [x] `nyquist_compliant: true` set in frontmatter

**Approval:** pending
