Lesson 223: H2 Fest Hardening Capstone Receipt (2026)

Direct answer: H2 2026 fest hardening closes when h2_fest_hardening_capstone_v1.json links five child receipts from Lessons 218–222, proves build_label alignment across Deck, localization, facilitator ops, and HTML5 headers, and points to H1 capstone (217) plus Q4 capstone (211) so October promotion is not “perf GREEN, trust RED.”

Why this matters now (October 2026 fest traffic gate)

October 2026 producers have six JSON files in release-evidence/—Deck idle, string tables, VOD batch, facilitator amendment, CORP/COEP fest, and smoke—but no single BUILD_RECEIPT row partners can audit in ten minutes. Fest Discord asks: “Is this build Deck-safe, localized, facilitator-honest, and HTML5-correct?” Thursday BUILD_RECEIPT review needs one capstone section, not five threads.

This lesson closes arc 218–223 (same pattern as Lesson 217 H1 capstone). Pairs Deck static menu guide, Construct fest worker smoke, and Thursday row review.

Beginner path (50-minute capstone audit)

Time: ~50 minutes when child lessons done; 80 minutes first full H2 audit.

Developer path (gates K1–K8)

Child receipt crosswalk

K4 n/a: No mid-week facilitator pin change—set facilitator_amendment_receipt: "n/a" with reason stable_version_pin_week.

K5 smoke child: Link fest worker smoke preflight → corp_coep_fest_smoke_receipt_v1.json beside fest receipt.

h2_fest_hardening_capstone_v1.json

{
  "schema": "h2_fest_hardening_capstone_v1",
  "build_label": "fest-demo-2026-10-05-rc2",
  "arc_lessons": ["218", "219", "220", "221", "222", "223"],
  "receipts": {
    "218": "deck_static_menu_receipt_v1.json",
    "219": "addressables_fest_string_table_receipt_v1.json",
    "220": "facilitator_vod_batch_receipt_v1.json",
    "221": "facilitator_amendment_receipt_v1.json",
    "222": "corp_coep_fest_receipt_v1.json"
  },
  "receipt_paths": {
    "218": "release-evidence/deck/DECK_STATIC_MENU_RECEIPT.json",
    "219": "release-evidence/localization/ADDRESSABLES_FEST_STRING_TABLE_RECEIPT.json",
    "220": "release-evidence/playtest/FACILITATOR_VOD_BATCH_RECEIPT.json",
    "221": "release-evidence/ops/FACILITATOR_AMENDMENT_RECEIPT.json",
    "222": "release-evidence/html5/CORP_COEP_FEST_RECEIPT.json"
  },
  "paired_smoke": {
    "corp_coep_fest_smoke": "release-evidence/html5/CORP_COEP_FEST_SMOKE_RECEIPT.json"
  },
  "prior_arc_pointers": {
    "h1_player_trust": {
      "lesson": "217",
      "schema": "h1_player_trust_capstone_v1",
      "path": "release-evidence/capstone/H1_PLAYER_TRUST_CAPSTONE.json",
      "required_for_fest_promotion": true
    },
    "q4_post_shipping": {
      "lesson": "211",
      "schema": "q4_post_shipping_capstone_v1",
      "path": "release-evidence/capstone/Q4_POST_SHIPPING_CAPSTONE.json",
      "required_for_fest_promotion": true
    }
  },
  "gates": {
    "K1_deck_static_menu": "pass",
    "K2_addressables_fest_tables": "pass",
    "K3_facilitator_vod_batch": "pass",
    "K4_facilitator_amendment": "pass",
    "K5_corp_coep_fest": "pass",
    "K6_build_label_crosswalk": "pass",
    "K7_h1_capstone_linked": "pass",
    "K8_capstone": "pass"
  },
  "fest_promotion_allowed": true
}

Pin under release-evidence/capstone/H2_FEST_HARDENING_CAPSTONE.json.

BUILD_RECEIPT capstone row

Key takeaways

1. Capstone = wiring Lessons 218–222—not re-running MangoHud or ffmpeg drills.
2. build_label joins Deck, localization, VOD, facilitator, and HTML5 rows (K6).
3. Lesson 220 blocks batch Whisper when any session concat_ok is false.
4. Lesson 221 required when VERSION moves mid-contract; else explicit n/a.
5. Lesson 222 + fest smoke guide prove HTML5 before fest Play URLs.
6. Lesson 217 H1 still required—fest perf without trust receipts fails partner audit (K7).
7. Lesson 211 Q4 still required—URL/surface isolation (K7).
8. H2 arc 218–223 closed — Q1 recovery arc 224–229 continues in Lesson 229 capstone.
9. MangoHud case study explains Deck idle context for 218.
10. Thursday review lists 218–222 pass/fail/n/a in one section.

Common mistakes

• Filing capstone while Lesson 219 tables_ok is false after strip PR.
• Skipping fest smoke child when 222 fest_promotion_allowed is true.
• Different build_label on VOD batch vs facilitator amendment.
• Promoting fest_public without H1 capstone link “because H2 is newer.”
• Treating 221 as optional when hotfix actually shipped mid-week.

Troubleshooting

Mini exercise (75 minutes)

1. Mismatch one child build_label—confirm K6 fails.
2. Fix crosswalk; verify five paths + smoke JSON resolve.
3. Set 221 to n/a on stable-pin week—confirm K4 allows with note.
4. Link 217 + 211 capstone paths.
5. File h2_fest_hardening_capstone_v1.json; run Thursday review H2 Capstone section.

Continuity — H2 arc close (218–223)

Previous: Lesson 222 — Construct CORP/COEP fest
Next arc: Lesson 224 — OBS MKV gap reencode receipt (Q1 2027 post-fest recovery) → Lesson 235 — Q2 spring fest shipping capstone (May 2027 shipping)
Prior arc: Lesson 217 — H1 player trust capstone

FAQ

Same as Lesson 217?
217 wires 212–216 trust receipts; 223 wires 218–222 fest hardening receipts.

Can we skip 221?
Only with documented n/a when VERSION did not change during facilitator week.

Course-Planner next?
H2 queue 218–223 is complete—refill before the next go expects new lessons.

One capstone row for H2—or October fest promotion is six receipts and zero accountability.