inbox_pattern complements outbox

Source: Pattern·Target: Pattern

Summary

The outbox pattern guarantees at-least-once delivery from producer to broker; the inbox pattern guarantees idempotent processing at the consumer. Together they provide end-to-end exactly-once processing.

Evidence

·inbox_pattern is described as the consumer-side complement to outbox and lists outbox_pattern in related_patterns (patterns/inbox_pattern.yaml)
·outbox_pattern relay is at-least-once, so consumers must be idempotent - the gap inbox fills (patterns/outbox_pattern.yaml)

Evidence grounding

Grounded, 2 supporting items

Outbox gives at-least-once producer-to-broker; inbox adds exactly-once processing at the consumer.