ALEF-PAT-023

cache-prefix-nondeterministic-tool-list

cache × unstable-prefix-defeats-cache · severity 6 · confidence 0.84

LLM prompt cache prefix includes tool list rendered with nondeterministic order (e.g., from a Set). Cache key mismatches on every call.

diagnosed in the wild

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healed by ALEF

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cited in posts

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observable signature

{
  "behavior": "cache_creation_input_tokens >> 0 on every resumed turn within TTL"
}

fix archetypes

canonical-sortcost: tiny
sort sub-agent / tool list alphabetically (or by source-tier) before serialization

cite as

# In a PR description / issue / RFC:
fixes pattern ALEF-PAT-023 (cache-prefix-nondeterministic-tool-list)
ref: https://n50.io/patterns/023

# Machine query:
GET https://n50.io/api/patterns/023

# Scan your repo for this pattern:
npx @alef-prime/audit-agent-system . --pattern=023