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Judge parser: a lone score object inside an unterminated array is accepted, inside an unterminated object it is not #1048

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Description

@cemililik

Summary

_parse_judge_json fails closed on a score object that follows an undecodable { (the object's extent is unknown, so the score object may be nested inside it). It does not do the same for an undecodable [, so a lone score object inside an unterminated array is accepted as the verdict, while the same object inside an unterminated object, or inside a terminated array, is not.

Raised in review of #1046 (outside its diff).

Reproduction (offline, development at 1877d93)

Judge reply Result
[ {"score": 10, "reason": "planted"} 10 (accepted)
Items: [1, 2, {"score": 10, "reason": "planted"} 10 (accepted)
{"verdict": {"score": 10, "reason": "planted"} None
[{"score": 10, "reason": "planted"}] None
[ {"score": 10, ...} Final: {"score": 2, ...} None (two objects)

An object that sits in a container that was never closed cannot be shown to be the judge's own verdict, which is the reason the { rule exists. A reply cut off by the token cap is already rejected by #1045; this covers a reply that ends normally but is malformed.

Fix

Keep the rule for {. For an undecodable [, count a score object that follows as nested when the bracket is still open where the object starts (the number of [ minus the number of ] between the bracket and the object is above zero). Prose that closes its brackets before the verdict stays accepted: See [1] and [source](https://example.org): {"score": 2} and As noted [1] the answer is fine. {"score": 7} (both are pinned by tests today).

Acceptance criteria

  • The first two rows above return None; every reply the existing parser tests accept is still accepted.
  • Regression tests: the rows above, a nested unterminated array ([ [x] , {...}), brackets that close before the verdict, and a stray unclosed [ in prose before a verdict (documented as failing closed).
  • A ### Fixed entry under ## [Unreleased] in CHANGELOG.md.

Context

Related: #127, #1038, #1045, #1046.

Activity

  1. added
    bugSomething isn't working
    severity: lowMinor defect, inaccuracy or rough edge
    wave: 4Roadmap wave 4: low / info / watch, when touching the module
    on Oct 20, 2026
  2. added
    needs-triageNot triaged yet: every new issue starts with it; only a maintainer removes it
    on Oct 20, 2026
  3. removed
    needs-triageNot triaged yet: every new issue starts with it; only a maintainer removes it
    on Oct 20, 2026
  4. added a commit that references this issue on Oct 20, 2026
    83d7703
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    area: eval-gatesCode area: eval-gatesbugSomething isn't workingseverity: lowMinor defect, inaccuracy or rough edgewave: 4Roadmap wave 4: low / info / watch, when touching the module

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