Lesson 229: Q1 Post-Fest Capstone Receipt (2026)

Direct answer: Q1 2027 post-fest recovery closes when q1_post_fest_capstone_v1.json links five child receipts from Lessons 224–228, proves build_label alignment across VOD recovery, storefront language, Windows audio middleware, press keys, and itch HTML5 fest audio, and points to H2 capstone (223) plus Q4 capstone (211) so January traffic is not “recovery GREEN, fest hardening RED.”

Why this matters now (January 2027 post-fest traffic gate)

January 2027 producers finished October fest with H2 capstone 223 then shipped five recovery receipts—MKV gap reencode, PO-hash language, Wwise DSP packaged, review-key demo scope, FMOD WebGL fest snapshot—but partners still ask: “Is this build safe for press keys, localized storefronts, packaged Windows audio, and itch HTML5?” Thursday BUILD_RECEIPT review needs one Q1 Capstone section, not five Slack threads.

This lesson closes arc 224–229 (same pattern as Lesson 223 H2 capstone). Pairs OBS MKV gap guide, Ren'Py PO-hash guide, and Thursday row review.

Beginner path (55-minute capstone audit)

Time: ~55 minutes when child lessons done; 85 minutes first full Q1 audit.

Developer path (gates Q1–Q8)

Child receipt crosswalk

Q1 n/a: No MKV timestamp gap in post-fest VOD batch—set mkv_gap_reencode_receipt: "n/a" with reason no_gap_detected_in_batch.

Q5 child note: Lesson 228 already crosswalks Lesson 203 fmod_webgl_snapshot_receipt_v1—capstone checks 228 pass only, not 203 directly.

q1_post_fest_capstone_v1.json

{
  "schema": "q1_post_fest_capstone_v1",
  "build_label": "fest-demo-2027-01-14-rc1",
  "arc_lessons": ["224", "225", "226", "227", "228", "229"],
  "receipts": {
    "224": "mkv_gap_reencode_receipt_v1.json",
    "225": "po_hash_language_receipt_v1.json",
    "226": "wwise_dsp_packaged_receipt_v1.json",
    "227": "review_key_demo_scope_receipt_v1.json",
    "228": "fmod_webgl_fest_snapshot_receipt_v1.json"
  },
  "receipt_paths": {
    "224": "release-evidence/playtest/MKV_GAP_REENCODE_RECEIPT.json",
    "225": "release-evidence/localization/PO_HASH_LANGUAGE_RECEIPT.json",
    "226": "release-evidence/audio/WWISE_DSP_PACKAGED_RECEIPT.json",
    "227": "release-evidence/steam/REVIEW_KEY_DEMO_SCOPE_RECEIPT.json",
    "228": "release-evidence/audio/FMOD_WEBGL_FEST_SNAPSHOT_RECEIPT.json"
  },
  "prior_arc_pointers": {
    "h2_fest_hardening": {
      "lesson": "223",
      "schema": "h2_fest_hardening_capstone_v1",
      "path": "release-evidence/capstone/H2_FEST_HARDENING_CAPSTONE.json",
      "required_for_q1_promotion": true
    },
    "q4_post_shipping": {
      "lesson": "211",
      "schema": "q4_post_shipping_capstone_v1",
      "path": "release-evidence/capstone/Q4_POST_SHIPPING_CAPSTONE.json",
      "required_for_q1_promotion": true
    }
  },
  "gates": {
    "Q1_mkv_gap_reencode": "pass",
    "Q2_po_hash_language": "pass",
    "Q3_wwise_dsp_packaged": "pass",
    "Q4_review_key_demo_scope": "pass",
    "Q5_fmod_webgl_fest_snapshot": "pass",
    "Q6_build_label_crosswalk": "pass",
    "Q7_prior_capstones_linked": "pass",
    "Q8_capstone": "pass"
  },
  "q1_promotion_allowed": true
}

Pin under release-evidence/capstone/Q1_POST_FEST_CAPSTONE.json.

BUILD_RECEIPT capstone row

ALTER TABLE release_publish_gate ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS
  q1_post_fest_capstone_blocked BOOLEAN NOT NULL DEFAULT false;

CI verify_q1_post_fest_capstone_v1 fails when q1_promotion_allowed is false and January storefront promotion flag is set.

Key takeaways

1. Capstone = wiring Lessons 224–228—not re-running ffmpeg, Weblate, or cold-tab audio from scratch.
2. build_label joins VOD, localization, Windows audio, press keys, and itch HTML5 rows (Q6).
3. Lesson 224 n/a is valid when no MKV gap was detected—document reason.
4. Lesson 227 blocks press batches when hour-one scope fails.
5. Lesson 228 requires child 203 GREEN inside fest receipt—check 228 file, not 203 alone.
6. Lesson 223 H2 still required—recovery without fest hardening fails partner audit (Q7).
7. Lesson 211 Q4 still required—surface isolation (Q7).
8. Q1 arc 224–229 closed — Course-Planner refill recommended for next live-ops wave.
9. Thursday review lists 224–228 pass/fail/n/a in one Q1 Capstone section.
10. Review keys checklist pairs with 227; do not re-audit keys in this capstone exercise.

Common mistakes

• Filing capstone while 225 PO hash still mismatches Weblate export.
• Skipping 227 because “we only sent five keys.”
• Different build_label on 228 itch receipt vs 227 press batch.
• Promoting Q1 storefront without 223 H2 capstone link “because recovery is newer.”
• Re-running MangoHud in capstone instead of reading 223 pointer.
• Setting 224 to pass when batch manifest still shows gap without reencode receipt.

Troubleshooting

Mini exercise (80 minutes)

1. Mismatch one child build_label—confirm Q6 fails.
2. Fix crosswalk; verify five paths resolve (224 may be n/a).
3. Link 223 + 211 capstone JSON paths.
4. File q1_post_fest_capstone_v1.json.
5. Run Thursday review Q1 Capstone section with pass/fail/n/a per child.

Continuity — Q1 arc close (224–229)

Previous: Lesson 228 — FMOD WebGL fest demo snapshot
Prior fest arc: Lesson 223 — H2 fest hardening capstone
Next arc: Lesson 230 — Fab 8K Godot import throttle receipt → closed by Lesson 235 — Q2 spring fest shipping capstone.

FAQ

Same as Lesson 223?
223 wires 218–222 October fest hardening; 229 wires 224–228 January post-fest recovery.

Same as Lesson 217?
217 is H1 player trust; 229 is Q1 storefront + ops recovery after fest.

Can we skip 224?
Only with documented n/a when no MKV gap was detected in the post-fest VOD batch.

Course-Planner next?
Q1 queue 224–229 is complete—refill before the next go expects new lessons.

One capstone row for Q1—or January promotion is five receipts and zero accountability.